PROBATION AND PAROLE OFFICERS MUST RECOGNIZE THAT ALCOHOLISM, WHETHER DESCRIBED AS UNCONTROLLED DRINKING, PROBLEM DRINKING, UNPREDICTABLE DRINKING, OR COMPULSIVE DRINKING, IS AN EPIDEMIC. MANY OFFICERS HAVE CATEGORICALLY STATED THAT ALCOHOLISM IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM IN THEIR CASELOADS, WITH CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATES RANGING FROM 50 TO 75 PERCENT. AFTER RELEASE FROM A PENAL INSTITUTION, MOST ALCOHOLICS USUALLY RETURN TO THE COMMUNITY UNDER SOME FORM OF PAROLE SUPERVISION. MANY DO NOT GO TO PRISON AFTER APPEARING IN COURT BUT ARE RELEASED UNDER SOME FORM OF PROBATION SUPERVISION. THE TIME ALLOTTED TO OFFICERS TO WORK WITH CLIENTS IS LIMITED TO THAT PERIOD UNDER SUPERVISION. CONSTRUCTIVE COERCION USED WITH THE AUTHORITY VESTED IN OFFICERS CAN HARDLY BE CHALLENGED IF IT WILL BRING ABOUT A CHANGE IN THINKING THAT WILL RESULT IN CLIENTS DOING SOMETHING ABOUT THEIR PROBLEM. GROUP COUNSELING FOR ALCOHOLIC PROBATIONERS AND PAROLEES ON A VOLUNTARY ATTENDANCE BASIS USUALLY INSURES THAT PERSONS WHO ARE REALLY INTERESTED DO ATTEND. COMPULSORY ATTENDANCE (CONSTRUCTIVE COERCION) IS NECESSARY IF A PROGRAM IS TO BE EFFECTIVE AND HAVE VALUE. IN GROUP COUNSELING, EMPHASIS IS PLACED ON BEHAVIOR, INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS, AND ATTITUDES. REFERRAL TO OUTSIDE TREATMENT PROGRAMS AND FACILITIES IS REQUIRED IN AREAS WHERE CONDUCTING A GROUP COUNSELING PROGRAM WITHIN AN OFFICER'S BASE OF OPERATION IS IMPRACTICAL OR IMPOSSIBLE. OFFICERS WORKING IN THE FIELD MUST REALIZE THAT RELAPSES ARE TO BE ANTICIPATED BUT NOT CONDONED, ASSISTANCE TO OFFICERS BY SUCH COMMUNITY AGENCIES AS ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, AL-ANON, AND ALATEEN IS DISCUSSED. REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (DEP)