In May 1992, probationers amounted to more than 70 percent of the offenders under the supervision of the State's corrections department. In addition, about 30 percent of offenders imprisoned in Wisconsin were serving a probation sentence at the time. Inmates on probation at the time of their arrest for their current offense were younger than other inmates, received shorter sentences, were less likely to have prior prison experience, and more likely to have committed property crimes rather than violent crimes. In addition, male probation violators were less likely to have been working, more likely to have been looking for work, less likely to be high school graduates, and less likely to think they will gain from prison education and training than the rest of the offenders. However, statistical models reveal that probation violators are not more chronic offenders than other inmates. Findings suggest a role for probation in the State's correctional policy, although the size of that role was outside the scope of this study. Figures, footnotes, and appended additional data