AN INTRODUCTION TO THE SCOPE OF THE MASTER PLAN IS PRESENTED, WITH ATTENTION TO THE PURPOSE OF THE PROJECT AND THE OUTLINE OF THE PLAN. DEFINITIONS, PROBLEMS, AND BACKGROUND RELATING TO COMMUNITY-BASED CORRECTIONS ARE ALSO DETAILED. NEXT, THE PROJECT METHODOLOGY IS DISCUSSED. FOUR SUCCESSIVE TASKS WERE UNDERTAKEN IN THE PLANNING STAGES: (1) IDENTIFICATION OF EXISTING PROBATION SYSTEMS AND RESOURCES; (2) CONCEPTION OF AN IDEAL SYSTEM TOWARDS FOR DIRECT GUIDELINES AND PLANS; (3) IDENTIFICATION OF PRIORITIES, DEVELOPMENT OF STRATEGIES AND ANALYSIS OF PRACTICAL CONSTRAINTS WHICH WOULD BE IMPOSED ON REALIZATION OF IDEALS; AND (4) SYNTHESIZING FINDINGS INTO A MODEL. THE HISTORY OF PROBATION IN TEXAS IS REVIEWED; ADULT PROBATION LAW AND PROBATION PRACTICES ARE EXAMINED. STATUTES AND CASE LAW ARE NOTED, INCLUDING THE STATE ADULT PROBATION AND PAROLE LAW AND MISDEMEANOR PROBATION LAW. FINALLY, CURRENT COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS IN TEXAS (1977) ARE EXAMINED. PROBATION SYSTEMS ARE DISCUSSED, WITH ATTENTION TO THE USE OF PROBATION, PROBATION SERVICES AND THE COURTS, SERVICES MANPOWER, CASEWORK SUPERVISION, COMMUNITY RESOURCES, FINANCIAL SANCTIONS AND ASSESSMENTS, AND BUDGETING. DIVERSION, PRETRIAL RELEASE, AND WORK RELEASE ARE ALSO CONSIDERED. A SELECTION OF QUESTIONNAIRES AND THE FINDINGS THEIR USE PRODUCED, ARE APPENDED, INCLUDING THE SURVEYS OF PROBATION OFFICERS, DISTRICT JUDGES, ATTORNEYS, AND ASSORTED LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL. TABULAR DATA ILLUSTRATE THE FINDINGS. (KBL)