Frequently only one staff member is available to handle 17-25 residents for up to a 12-hour period. A survey of six Probation Areas responsible for 22 adult hostels found violent acts to be few and violent residents to be the least predictable. Staff should be better trained for the job; staff confidence is infectious, and confidence is essential in dealing with explosive situations. Monitoring and training should be continued, although it appears that hostels may well be able to accept as residents some offenders who had been thought unsuitable. One tables and seven references are included. (Author abstract modified)