THE SERVICE'S ROLE SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED ENOUGH TO EARN THE RESPECT OF GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND SO PREVENT OVERBURDENING OR FRAGMENTATION BY FREQUENT ADDITION OF UNASSIMILATED TASKS ON A BIAS OF MERE EXPEDIENCY. YET THE SERVICE MUST BE FLEXIBLE ENOUGH TO RESPOND TO CONTEMPORARY NEEDS, THOUGH WITHOUT BEING SUBSERVIENT TO POLITICAL PRESSURE. DURING THE SIXTIES THE SERVICE UNDERWENT GREAT CHANGES, WITH LITTLE TIME TO ASSIMILATE THEM. FROM A LARGELY SINGLE-PURPOSE SERVICE IT BECAME ONE WITH A MULTIPLICITY OF TASKS, WITH A RESULTANT NEED FOR INTERNAL SPECIALIZATION. THE SEVENTIES WERE CHARACTERIZED BY ANOTHER DEBATE, THIS ONE ABOUT THE PROFESSIONAL RESPECTABILITY OF CONTROL IN SOCIAL WORK. IF THE SERVICE COULD ACCEPT THE SIMPLE AFFIRMATION THAT ITS ROLE IS CURRENTLY (1979) THREE-FOLD, MANY SELF-DEFEATING ARGUMENTS WOULD CEASE. FIRST, THE SERVICE IS TO PROVIDE A WHOLE SYSTEM OF NONCUSTODIAL SENTENCES; THIS MULTIDISCIPLINARY SERVICE WOULD EMBRACE SOCIAL WORKERS, ANCILLARY STAFF, AND PROFESSIONALLY TRAINED MEMBERS FROM OTHER DISCIPLINES. SECOND, THE SERVICE IS TO PROVIDE THROUGH-CARE FOR OFFENDERS IN INSTITUTIONS AND FOR THEIR FAMILIES, MAINTAINING THE PRESENCE OF SOCIAL WORKERS IN INSTITUTIONS. THIRD, SOCIAL SERVICE SHOULD BE PROVIDED TO THE DIVORCE AND DOMESTIC COURTS. APPROXIMATELY 25 REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)