IT IS NOTED THAT PROBATION HANDLES THE LARGEST PERCENTAGE OF THE CORRECTIONAL POPULATION AND IS COMPARATIVELY INEXPENSIVE TO OPERATE. PROBATION IS INDICATED TO BE THE PROCESS BY WHICH OFFENDERS FREQUENTLY ARE REQUIRED TO PAY FINES AND MAKE RESTITUTION TO VICTIMS AND THE COMMUNITY. ILLUSTRATIONS OF HOW THE RESTITUTION ASPECTS OF PROBATION ARE ACCOMPLISHED ARE PROVIDED FROM THE PIMA COUNTY ADULT PROBATION DEPARTMENT, TUCSON, ARIZ., THE DEPARTMENT WHERE THE AUTHOR SERVES AS CHIEF PROBATION OFFICER. PROBATION AS THE CONTEXT FOR COORDINATING COMMUNITY SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE PROBATIONER ACCORDING TO HIS NEED IS ALSO DISCUSSED ALONG WITH THE PROFILE OF THE TYPICAL PROBATION OFFICER IS IN TERMS OF AGE, EDUCATION, MARITAL STATUS, AND SALARY. HIS ROLE IS SEEN TO BE THAT OF A PEACE OFFICER CONCERNED WITH COMMUNITY PROTECTION, AS WELL AS THAT OF A 'BROKER OF SERVICES' IN REHABILITATING PROBATIONERS. THE DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE TYPICAL PROBATIONER ARE ALSO LISTED. PROBATION IS VIEWED AS BEING LIMITED TO THE EXTENT THAT IT IS NOT APPROPRIATE OR EFFECTIVE FOR ALL OFFENDERS. SUCCESS IN PROBATION IS DEFINED AS COMPLETION OF THE TERM WITHOUT REVOCATION. BY THIS DEFINITION, PROBATION IS REPORTED TO HAVE A 60 TO 80 PERCENT SUCCESS RATE NATIONWIDE. THIS IS CONSIDERED TO MAKE IT WORTH THE EFFORT. SOME OF THE ADVANCES OF PROBATION DEPARTMENTS IN RELATION TO OTHER CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCIES ARE NOTED--IMPROVED INFORMATION SYSTEMS, INCREASING BUDGETS, AND EXPANDED PROGRAMS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION. IT IS ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE POPULATION OF PROBATIONERS IS TENDING TO HAVE AN INCREASING PERCENTAGE OF DIFFICULT CASES. THIS IS BELIEVED DUE TO THE SIPHONING OFF OF HIGH PERCENTAGE REHABILITATION OFFENDERS THROUGH PRETRIAL DIVERSION PROGRAMS. (RCB)