THE TASKS OF SOCIAL WORKERS IN 1943 (THE DATE OF THE AUTHOR'S GRADUATION), RESEMBLE THE MODERN ONES--MAKING INQUIRIES AND ASSISTING CONDITIONALLY LIBERATED OFFENDERS (THE EQUIVALENT OF TODAY'S PROBATIONERS AND PAROLEES). AT THE TIME, TREATMENT APPROACHES WERE UNSPECIFIED SO THAT SOCIAL WORKERS INTUITIVELY ACTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THEIR INDIVIDUAL PERSONALITIES. PREJUDICES AGAINST OFFENDERS DOMINATED THE PROFESSIONAL TRAINING PERIOD, AND THE GREAT DISCOVERY MADE BY ALL YOUNG SOCIAL WORKERS AND ATTORNEYS WAS THAT OFFENDERS ARE 'PEOPLE LIKE US.' THE GREAT REVOLUTION OF THE SOCIAL SERVICES CAME IN THE 1950'S THROUGH THE INTRODUCTION OF AMERICAN CASEWORK METHODS, FOLLOWED BY A SERIES OF NEW TREATMENT METHODS (INCLUDING FAMILY THERAPY). GRADUALLY, THE EMPHASIS SHIFTED FROM THE INTUITIVE HUMAN RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PROBATIONER AND SOCIAL WORKER TO A PROFESSIONAL RELATIONSHIP. YOUNG SOCIAL WORKERS WERE TRAINED IN PSYCHOLOGY AND SOPHISTICATED METHODS OF CLASSIFYING CLIENTS--ALL OF WHICH DID NOT DECREASE SOCIAL PREJUDICE. IN 1964, THE PROBATION LAW (INTENDED TO EMPTY THE PRISONS) REQUIRED A HOST OF NEW SOCIAL SERVICES, (ALTHOUGH, IT IS VIEWED UNFAVORABLY BY OFFENDERS WHO OBJECT TO THE NEW 5-YEAR PROBATION PERIOD WHICH IS OFTEN IMPOSED FOR MINOR OFFENSES AND IS ACCOMPANIED BY NUMEROUS OBLIGATIONS. SOCIAL WORKERS ARE NOW SHOWING A WILLINGNESS TO EXERT POLITICAL INFLUENCE TO REMEDY THE SOCIAL INJUSTICES THEY CONFRONT. THIS INCREASED EMPHASIS ON THE SOCIAL CAUSES OF DELINQUENCY IS CONSIDERED A POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT. --IN FRENCH.