PROBATION CURRENTLY IS OPERATED BY COUNTY DEPARTMENTS AND NEW YORK CITY'S MUNICIPAL DEPARTMENT. PROBATION PROGRAMS INCLUDE PRETRIAL SERVICES, INVESTIGATION, SUPERVISION, AND SUPPORT COLLECTIONS. NEW YORK HAD 62,924 PROBATIONERS AT THE END OF 1976, COMPARED WITH ABOUT 18,000 SENTENCED INMATES. OVER 2,100 PROBATION OFFICERS WORKED IN 54 SEPARATE COUNTY DEPARTMENTS AND NEW YORK CITY. SUPPORT PAYMENTS COLLECTED TOTALLED $109.1 MILLION. CONVERTING PROBATION TO A STATE SERVICE WAS PROPOSED IN 1977, FOLLOWING A PILOT PROJECT BEGUN IN 1972 WHICH ENTAILED STATE TAKEOVER OF THREE COUNTIES' PROBATION OPERATIONS AND WHICH WAS JUDGED A MIXED SUCCESS. SENATE BILL 6409 WOULD GIVE THE STATE DIRECTOR AUTHORITY TO TAKE OVER COUNTY DEPARTMENTS AFTER REVIEWING THEIR REQUESTS FOR TAKEOVER, OR IF THEY DID NOT COMPLY WITH STATE STANDARDS. SUPPORT FOR THE BILL IS BASED ON HOPES FOR MANAGEMENT IMPROVEMENTS, ECONOMIES, IMPROVED ACCOUNTABILITY, AND HIGHER JOB PRESTIGE AND PAY FOR PROBATION OFFICERS. OPPOSITION IS BASED ON POTENTIAL NEGATIVE PROGRAM IMPACTS, EFFECTS ON EMPLOYEE SECURITY, AND DOUBTS ABOUT THE STATE'S ADMINISTRATIVE CAPACITY. EVIDENCE SUPPORTING MANY OF THESE POSITIONS IS NOT DEFINITIVE. NEVERTHELESS, THE FEARS THAT CURRENT SUPERIOR LOCAL SERVICES MIGHT DETERIORATE AND THAT THE STATE MIGHT NOT RESPOND TO LOCAL CONCERNS ARE LEGITIMATE ONES. IN ADDITION, LITERATURE ON ORGANIZATIONAL THEORY TENDS TO ARGUE AGAINST CENTRALIZATION. THE PROPOSAL THEREFORE DOES NOT PRESENT A FEASIBLE OR WELL PREPARED ALTERNATIVE TO THE PRESENT SYSTEM. CAREFUL POLICY ANALYSIS, INCLUDING CONSIDERATION OF MANY ALTERNATIVE ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENTS, IS NEEDED BEFORE ANY CHANGES ARE UNDERTAKEN. DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF THE CURRENT SYSTEM AND THE PROPOSED LAW, APPENDIXES ON LAWS COVERING PROBATION FOR MISDEMEANORS AND FELONIES, A FLOW CHART ON NEW YORK PROBATION SERVICES, AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY ARE INCLUDED. (CFW)