AN OVERVIEW OF HOW INTERVENTION OCCURS TAKES INTO ACCOUNT DIFFERENT SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT IN OPERATION AT DIFFERENT TIMES, INCLUDING THOSE WHICH VIEWED THE PROBATION OFFICER AS A FRIENDLY, FIRM AUTHORITY FIGURE, AS PROFESSIONAL A CASEWORKER BASED IN PSYCHOLOGY, AND AS A SUPPORTIVE SOCIOLOGIST INFLUENCED BY POLITICS AND SOCIAL CHANGE. PROBLEMS INHERENT TO EACH STYLE ARE DISCUSSED, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF THE FOCUS OF SUPERVISION AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF SHORT-TERM CRISIS INTERVENTION IN DETERMINING HOW MUCH ONE INTERVENES IS STRESSED. ALTERNATIVES, SUCH AS COMMUNITY SERVICE AND DAY TRAINING CENTERS, ARE ALSO COVERED, AS WELL AS THE MOVEMENT OF THE PROBATION SERVICE INTO THE PRISONS. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT PROBATION MUST NOT BE VIEWED AS A MAJOR AGENCY FOR FIGHTING CRIME, BUT MUST RATHER ATTEMPT TO BE OF VALUE TO A NUMBER OF SELECTED CLIENTS.