THE DISCUSSION OPENS WITH COMMENTS ON THE OFFENDER AS A SOCIAL WORK CLIENT. DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE PERSPECTIVE OF SOCIAL WORKERS AND THOSE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM PERSONNEL ARE POINTED OUT. PROBLEMS THAT SOCIAL WORKERS ENCOUNTER IN WORKING WITHIN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM ARE NOTED. STATISTICS ON OFFENDER CHARACTERISTICS ARE PRESENTED AND DISCUSSED, TOGETHER WITH THEORIES ON THE CAUSES OF CRIME. THE ROLES OF POLICE, PROSECUTORS, THE COURTS, AND CORRECTIONS ARE DISCUSSED, AND THE ROLE OF THE SOCIAL WORKER AT EACH STAGE OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROCESS IS POINTED OUT. BACKGROUND AND TRAINING REQUIREMENTS FOR SOCIAL WORKERS WHO DEAL WITH OFFENDERS ARE DISCUSSED, AS IS THE USE OF VOLUNTEERS AND EX-OFFENDERS TO ASSIST PROFESSIONAL STAFF MEMBERS IN PROBATION AND PAROLE AGENCIES. PROBLEMS OF UNREASONABLE EXPECTATIONS CONFRONTING THE FIELD OF CORRECTIONS ARE SAID TO BE SIMILAR TO PROBLEMS CONFRONTING OTHER SOCIAL SERVICE FIELDS. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS PROVIDED. (LKM)