THE CENTRAL MECHANISM FOR ACHIEVING THIS GOAL, AS WELL AS AN IMPACT ON RECIDIVISM AND GENERAL SOCIAL FUNCTIONING, IS REFERRAL OF SCREENED PROBATIONERS TO A SESSION OF THE EMPLOYMENT GUIDANCE COUNCIL, MADE UP OF VOLUNTEER EXPERTS. SUPPORTIVE ASSISTANCE AND FOLLOW-THROUGH IS PROVIDED BY THE PROGRAM COORDINATOR (A SENIOR PROBATION OFFICER) AND THE COMMUNITY LIAISON OFFICER, A PERSONNEL SPECIALIST. THE PROBATION EMPLOYMENT AND GUIDANCE PROGRAM (PEG) WAS INAUGURATED IN AUGUST 1973, WITH THE SUPPORT OF LEAA AND AWARDED DISCRETIONARY FUNDS TO CONTINUE OPERATIONS FOR ANOTHER TWELVE MONTHS AND TO PROVIDE AN EXPANSION OF THE EVALUATION DESIGN IN JUNE 1974. IN THE PHASE OF OPERATIONS, REFERRED TO AS PEG II, THE PROGRAM WILL OPERATE IN A STREAMLINED VERSION, WITH REFERRAL SCREENING PLACED IN THE HANDS OF THE PEG COORDINATOR; MORE INTENSIVE PREPARATION FOR EACH EMPLOYMENT GUIDANCE COUNCIL SESSION IS ALSO ENVISIONED. PEG II IS EXPECTED TO HANDLE 300-360 REFERRALS, WITH APPROXIMATELY 100-120 PROBATIONERS REFERRED ON TO AN EMPLOYMENT GUIDANCE COUNCIL SESSION. PRELIMINARY RESULTS OF FOLLOW-UP ON PROBATIONERS PARTICIPATING DURING THE FIRST OPERATIONAL PHASE ARE ENCOURAGING. A FIRST EVALUATION REPORT, BASED ON SIX MONTHS FOLLOW-UP DATA ON THIS GROUP OF PROBATIONERS, IS SCHEDULED FOR FEBRUARY, 1975. A SECOND REPORT, CONSISTING OF AN ANALYSIS OF AT LEAST 12 MONTHS FOLLOW-UP DATA ON ALL PEG I AND THE FIRST HALF OF PEG II PROBATIONERS, IS PLANNED FOR EARLY IN 1976. BOTH REPORTS WILL ADDRESS THE IMPACTS OF THE PEG PROGRAM ON RECIDIVISM, EMPLOYMENT, AND SOCIAL FUNCTIONING OF PARTICIPATING PROBATIONERS. APPENDED TO THIS REPORT IS A DISCUSSION OF COMMUNITY REACTION TO THE PROGRAM. (FOR AN OVERVIEW REPORT ON THE ENTIRE PROGRAM, SEE NCJ-27012.) (AUTHOR ABSTRACT) SEE NCJ-27012 FOR A REPORT ON THE EXPERIENCE OF THE PROBATION EMPLOYMENT AND GUIDANCE PROGRAM.