UTILIZATION OF VOLUNTEERS IN THE UNITED STATES HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY WIDESPREAD. IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM THE USE OF VOLUNTEERS GOES BACK TO 1841 AND THE APPOINTMENT OF THE NATION'S FIRST PROBATION OFFICER. ALTHOUGH VOLUNTEERISM WAS SOMEWHAT DISPLACED UNTIL THE 1960'S, IN THE PAST DECADE STEADY INCREASES HAVE OCCURED SO THAT BY 1972 OVER 200,000 VOLUNTEERS ARE BEING UTILIZED IN THE COURT SYSTEM ALONE. VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS ARE WIDELY DIVERSIFIED AND SERVICES OFFERED INCLUDE PROBATION, COUNSELING, FOSTER PARENT RECRUITMENT, RECREATIONAL AND CULTURAL SUPPORTIVE ACTIVITIES FOR JUVENILE PROBATIONERS, PREPARATION OF PRESENTENCE INVESTIGATION AND CUSTODY REPORTS SUPERVISION OF VISITATION AND WORK PROGRAMS, VOCATIONAL SERVICES, TUTORING, EDUCATIONAL ENRICHMENT, HOTLINE AND REFERRAL SERVICES, AND CITIZEN CRIME WATCHES AND AUXILIARIES. PROGRAMMED ACTIVITIES FOR CORRECTIONAL EDUCATION (PACE), THE ROYAL OAK COURT PROGRAM (ROYAL OAK, MICHIGAN), THE DENVER (COLO.) JUNIOR PARTNERS PROGRAM, AND OPERATION IDENTIFICATION ARE EXAMPLES OF ONLY A FEW OF THE MANY PROGRAMS UTILIZING VOLUNTEERS. THE INCREASING USE OF VOLUNTEERS RAISES NUMEROUS RESEARCH ISSUES IN THE AREAS OF ADMINISTRATION AND PROGRAM EVALUATION. RESEARCH IS NEEDED IN RECRUITMENT, VOLUNTEER SCREENING RELATIVE TO PROGRAM OBJECTIVES, VOLUNTEER TRAINING, VOLUNTEER MOTIVATIONS AND INCENTIVE SYSTEMS, AND VOLUNTEER STAFF AND CLIENT INTERPERSONAL INTERACTIONS. SINCE VOLUNTEERS ARE INCREASINGLY BEING USED TO COMPLEMENT EXISTING INSTITUTIONAL SERVICES, SUCH RESEARCH IS CONSEQUENTLY MOST IMPORTANT IF VOLUNTEERS ARE TO BE USED EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (JAP)