The history of probation staff supervision is traced, including the role of magistrates, the Home Office, and supervisory grades. The impact of developing professional practice is also considered in an attempt to understand how the current situation has been reached. The views of probation officers, seniors, and assistant chief officers were surveyed regarding the purpose, practice, and effect of supervisory processes within the service. This study also reviews work currently being done within probation services to help those dissatisfied with the present system develop a more appropriate supervisory process. Overall, the probation service has developed rapidly in this century, particularly during the last 30 years. Task and practice have widened considerably. The practice of staff supervision, however, does not seem to be keeping pace with change. By far the most popular style adopted across all grades is the supervisor working with six or seven supervisees on a one-to-one basis, with occasional group meetings. Management style for the future should encourage new ideas, an exchange of views, and involve staff at all levels in the future directions of the service. Appended study instruments, 95-item questionnaire, subject index.