The article discusses important legal considerations regarding the pre-sentence investigation procedure, empirical research regarding the accuracy of probation officer recommendations and controversies that will affect the pre-sentence investigation and report into the future. It also examines the private sector pre-sentence report in terms of its utility and suggests ways to increase its professionalism and acceptance. In the future, probation officers’ pre-sentence reports will be compared with their private sector counterparts. Undoubtedly, this will facilitate the submission of more comprehensive information to the sentencing judge and other consumers of pre-sentence reports. Care must be taken in developing standards and qualifying procedures in the private sector so that privately prepared pre-sentence reports will enjoy the level of credibility that their public sector counterparts currently enjoy. Bibliography