MOST PROBATION AGENCIES HAVE RESISTED PROGRAMS THAT MAKE AN OFFENDER COMPENSATE A VICTIM THROUGH FINES OR COMMUNITY SERVICE. PSYCHOLOGICALLY ORIENTED COUNSELING CONCENTRATES ON PAST REASONS FOR BEHAVIOR, WHEREAS RESTITUTION FOCUSES ON CURRENT PROBLEMS AND THEIR SOLUTIONS. IN A RESTITUTION PROGRAM AN OFFENDER CAN IMPROVE HIS SELF-IMAGE BY SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETING A JOB AND ESTABLISHING GOOD RELATIONSHIPS WITH COUNSELING OFFICERS. PROGRAMS MUST BE CLOSELY SUPERVISED; E.G., THE INDIVIDUAL SIGNS A CONTRACT IN WHICH COMMITMENTS AND OBLIGATIONS ARE MADE EXPLICIT. RESPONSIBILITY FOR SUCCESS OR FAILURE RESTS ONLY WITH THE OFFENDER. RESTITUTION EFFORTS UTILIZE CONSTRUCTIVE, NOT PUNITIVE, EFFORTS TO IMPROVE THE OFFENDER'S BEHAVIOR AND PLACE THE INDIVIDUAL IN A HELPER ROLE IN THE COMMUNITY. COMMUNITIES CAN BENEFIT FROM RESTITUTION SERVICES SUCH AS PARK CLEANUP, SNOW REMOVAL, LAWN MAINTENANCE, AND TUTORING. SUCH PROGRAMS CAN SERVE TO REINTEGRATE THE OFFENDER INTO THE COMMUNITY AND INCREASE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF PROBATION SERVICES. THE BENEFITS OF RESTITUTION PROGRAMS ARE ILLUSTRATED IN A CASE HISTORY. FOOTNOTES ARE INCLUDED. (MJM)