PROJECT FIRST OFFENDER IS A PROGRAM BY WHICH SELECTED CRIMINAL OFFENDERS HANDLED BY THE SHELBY COUNTY CRIMINAL COURT MAY BE ASSIGNED TO A VOLUNTEER PROBATION OFFICER. THIS MANUAL PROVIDES VOLUNTEERS WITH INFORMATION ON REGULATIONS AND PROCEDURES TO ENABLE THEM TO CARRY OUT THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES. AN OVERVIEW OF THE ADULT AND JUVENILE COURT SYSTEMS IS FIRST PRESENTED. THE JURISDICTION AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF ALL MEMPHIS AND SHELBY COUNTY COURTS ARE ALSO LISTED. OBLIGATIONS OF THE VOLUNTEER PROBATION OFFICER ARE THEN ENUMERATED. IT IS NOTED, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THAT THE VOLUNTEER MUST MEET WITH THE PROBATIONER AT LEAST ONCE PER WEEK AND THAT HE WILL BE UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF PROBATION OFFICE STAFF. THE RULES OF PROCEDURE FOR PROJECT FIRST OFFENDER VOLUNTEERS ARE LISTED, AND EMPHASIS IS GIVEN TO THE LIMITATIONS OF THE VOLUNTEER'S AUTHORITY AND HIS LEGAL OBLIGATIONS AS A VOLUNTEER COUNSELOR. THE FINAL SECTIONS PRESENT THE LEGAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF PROBATION, REPRINT SECTIONS OF THE TENNESSEE STATE LAWS DEALING WITH PROBATION, AND PROVIDE SPECIFIC GUIDELINES ON COUNSELING TECHNIQUES....DMC