County probation departments provide court services, supervise probationers in the community, incarcerate offenders (primarily juveniles), and offer many other services. Despite its importance in the criminal justice system, the role of probation is not well-known. An examination of California's probation system found that probation departments provide diverse services, including court services, community supervision, and incarceration; that probation resources have not kept pace with burgeoning caseloads; that probation departments have a difficult time competing for limited county resources; that probation services have declined due to growing caseloads; and that limited resources have spurred innovation despite growing demands for probation services. Recommendations to improve probation include increasing access to statewide data, establishing a statewide clearinghouse for information and ideas, and enacting legislation to provide more local funding flexibility. 5 figures