THE EVOLUTIONARY NATURE OF THE PROBATION SERVICE IMPLIES THAT THE SERVICE HAS OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE CHOICES ABOUT THE FUTURE, I.E., WHETHER TO CONSOLIDATE OR TO EXPAND, WHETHER TO BECOME MORE SERVICE OR MORE CUSTODY ORIENTED. THERE SEEM TO BE THREE POSSIBILITIES FOR THE SERVICE IN THE FUTURE: OR TO BE ABSORBED INTO SOCIAL SERVICES, TO REMAIN AS IT IS, OR TO BECOME A NEW COMMUNITY CORRECTIONAL SERVICE. SEVERAL SIGNIFICANT TENSIONS ARE OPERATING AND WILL OPERATE WITHIN AND UPON THE SERVICE TO CHANGE IT. THE TREND IN TRAINING (TOWARDS GENERIC SOCIAL WORK) SEEMS OPPOSED TO THE DIRECTION OF THE SERVICE (TOWARDS SPECIALIZING IN CONTAINMENT IN THE COMMUNITY OF ADULT RECIDIVIST OFFENDERS). THE SERVICE IS BEING DRAWN TOWARDS CLOSER INVOLVEMENT WITH THE JUDICIAL AND PENAL SYSTEMS, WHILE ALSO BEING DRAWN TOWARDS BECOMING COMMUNITY ORIENTED AND BASED. SERVICE TO CLIENTS NOW HAS TO TAKE ITS PLACE ALONGSIDE SERVICE TO STAFF, FOLLOWING INDUSTRIAL LEGISLATION AND TRADE UNIONISM. THERE IS A TREND FOR MAIN GRADE AND MANAGEMENT TO BECOME STEADILY ISOLATED FROM EACH OTHER. THE TRADITIONAL EMPHASIS ON THE PATHOLOGY OF THE INDIVIDUAL OFFENDER IS BEING CHALLENGED BY SOCIOLOGICAL VIEWS ABOUT CRIME. YET, THE PROBATION SERVICE HAS REMAINED INTACT, ALIVE, AND CAPABLE OF COPING WITH BOTH TRADITIONAL WORK AND NEW DEVELOPMENTS, AND WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE THESE CHARACTERISTICS IF IT CONTINUES TO ACCEPT CHANGE AND INITIATE NEW IDEAS. A TOTAL OF 44 REFERENCES IS PROVIDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)