THIS TEXT VIEWS THE PROBATION OFFICER AS A PUBLIC OFFICIAL RESPONSIBLE FOR CERTAIN LEGALLY, JUDICIALLY AND SOCIALLY DESIGNATED ACTIVITIES, AND ATTEMPTS TO CLEARLY AND REALISTICALLY DELINEATE THESE ACTIVITIES IN RELATION TO OTHER ELEMENTS OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND SOCIAL SERVICES FIELDS. IT ALSO ESTABLISHES A FRAMEWORK OF PROFESSIONALISM WITHIN WHICH THE PROBATION OFFICER FULFILLS HIS ASSIGNED FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES. IN OTHER WORDS, THIS BOOK TREATS THE PROBATION PRACTITIONER AS A PUBLIC PROFESSIONAL AND OFERS SUGGESTIONS AS TO HOW HE CAN EFFECTIVELY FUNCTION IN SUCH A ROLE. AMONG THE SPECIFIC TOPICS COVERED ARE THE NATURE OF PROBATION, THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE PROBATION OFFICER, THE PROFESSIONAL ENVIRONMENT OF THE PROBATION OFFICER, BASIC FUNCTIONS OF THE PROBATION PRACTITIONER, AND THE TREATMENT APPROACHES AND CONCEPTS USED IN PROBATION. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)