THE LEGISLATION IN QUESTION IS KNOWN GENERALLY AS THE PROBATION SUBSIDY; ITS OBJECT WAS TO REALIGN THE RESPONSIBILITIES FOR CORRECTIONS BETWEEN STATE AGENCIES AND COUNTY PROBATION DEPARTMENTS. WHILE THE CENTRAL PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM WAS THE REDUCTION OF THE NUMBERS OF PERSONS COMMITTED TO STATE CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS, THOSE WHO DESIGNED THE PROGRAM ALSO HAD OTHER GOALS (E.G., IMPROVING PROBATION SERVICES AND PROFESSIONALISM). THE OBJECTIVE AND EFFECT OF EACH PROGRAM GOAL ARE INDIVIDUALLY ASSESSED. FIRST, COMMITMENT REDUCTION IS EXAMINED WITH ATTENTION TO THE ARITHMETIC, MEANING, AND STRATEGIES OF REDUCTION. ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW OF CASE DECISIONS IS THEN DISCUSSED. IN A NUMBER OF COUNTIES, PROBATION DEPARTMENTS DEALT WITH COMMITMENT REDUCTION THROUGH ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW OF CASE DECISIONS. THIS INVOLVED THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A BOARD EMPOWERED TO PASS JUDGMENT ON RECOMMENDATIONS FOR COURT DISPOSITIONS. COUNTY EXPERIENCES REGARDING ENHANCED ORGANIZATIONAL CONTROL AND THE RESOLUTION OF ORGANIZATIONAL CONFLICT ARE RECOUNTED. NEXT, RECALCITRANT SUPERIOR COURT SENTENCING PRACTICES ARE EXAMINED REGARDING ADULT COMMITMENTS IN SANTA CLARA AND SAN BERNARDINO COUNTIES. TWO CASE STUDIES OF COMMITMENT REDUCTION IN ACTION FOLLOW. THE PROGRAM'S EFFECT ON ORANGE COUNTY AND SAN FRANCISCO ARE DISCUSSED, AND COMMITMENT REDUCTION PROBLEMS ARE UNDERSCORED. GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS RELATING TO THE SELECTION AND MANAGEMENT OF CASELOADS ARE DETAILED, WITH EMPHASIS ON THE FORMULATION OF ORGANIZATIONAL ELITES AND THE ORGANIZATIONAL STATUS OF 'SPECIAL SUPERVISION' PROGRAMS. SELECTED CASE STUDIES RELATING TO THE SELECTION AND MANAGEMENT OF SUBSIDY CASELOADS ARE PRESENTED. CONTRA COSTA, SANTA CLARA, ALAMEDA, AND SAN FRANCISCO COUNTIES ARE DISCUSSED, AND BRIEFS ON OTHER COUNTIES ARE PROVIDED. PERSONNEL POLICIES AND THE 'SPECIAL SUPERVISION' PROGRAM ARE DISCUSSED, WITH ATTENTION TO PERSONNEL POLICIES IN THE EARLY YEARS, THE SENIORITY PRINCIPLE AND ITS CONSEQUENCES, AND THE ROUTINIZATION OF PERSONNEL POLICY. THE LAST TWO SECTIONS DISCUSS TRAINING AND INNOVATION IN THE 'SPECIAL SUPERVISION' PROGRAM AND THE IMPACT ON LOS ANGELES COUNTY OF THE PROBATION SUBSIDY. TABULAR DATA ARE PRESENTED. NAME AND SUBJECT INDEXES ARE INCLUDED. (KBL)