DEBATES ARGUE THE MOVEMENT OF THE SERVICE TOWARDS FRAGMENTATION AND SPECIALIZATION AS OPPOSED TO ITS MOVEMENT TOWARDS DIVERSIFICATION AND MULTIDISCIPLINARY CHARACTERISTICS. THE SERVICE'S ROLE BOTH AS A SOCIAL AND AS A CUSTODIAL SERVICE IS EXAMINED, WITH ATTENTION TO THE DILEMMA OF AUTHORITY AND CONTROL VERSUS CARE AND SERVICE. NEW APPROACHES TO CASEWORK ARE INTRODUCED, WITH LENGTHY EXPLORATION OF TASK-CENTERED CASEWORK, THE OBJECTIVES OF THE APPROACH, ITS FRAMEWORK, SITUATIONS IN WHICH IT HAS BEEN USED, AND FACTORS THAT POINT TO ITS SUCCESS. INNOVATIVE METHODS FOR THE PROBATION SERVICE TO EXPAND ITS RESOURCES AND SERVICES ARE PROFERRED, TOGETHER WITH RATIONALES FOR SUCH EXPANSION. THE RELATIONSHIP OF THE SERVICE TO WORK WITHIN THE PENAL INSTITUTION IS CONSIDERED, WITH EMPHASIS ON THE NEED FOR PRISON STAFF AND PROBATION OFFICERS TO WORK HAND IN HAND. THE PROS AND CONS OF CONTINUING PROBATION SERVICE INVOLVEMENT IN THE DIVORCE AND DOMESTIC COURTS ARE CONTESTED BOTH IN THE CONTEXT OF THE SERVICE'S TENDENCY TOWARD SPECIALIZATION AND IN THE CONTEXT OF THE SERVICE'S NEED TO REMAIN FLEXIBLE. RESEARCH AND MONITORING DIRECTIONS ARE COVERED, AS IN THE SERVICE'S GROWING BUREAUCRATIZATION. FINALLY, THE SERVICE'S INCREASING NEED FOR INFORMATION RETRIEVAL AND DISSEMINATION CAPABILITIES IS SUPPORTED WITH DISCUSSION OF WAYS IN WHICH THE SERVICE MIGHT INCORPORATE INFORMATION RESOURCES INTO EXISTING STRUCTURE. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. FOR RELATED DOCUMENTS, SEE NCJ 69016-25.