NEWSPAPERS, PERIODICALS, AND COURT REPORTS ARE USED TO DRAW THIS PICTURE OF THE EMERGENCE OF THE PRESENTENCE REPORT. IT FINDS THAT SUCH REPORTS WERE COMMON AND WERE USUALLY SUPPLIED BY THE POLICE, BY ATTORNEYS, OR BY PERSONS WITH NO PARTICULAR COURT EXPERIENCE WHO WERE BEING ASKED TO STAND BAIL FOR SOMEONE. THE REPORTS PREPARED BY JOHN AUGUSTUS OF BOSTON, MASS., WHO IS OFTEN CALLED THE FIRST PROBATION OFFICER, ARE EXAMINED. SAMPLES OF HIS REPORTS ARE GIVEN. IN AUSTRALIA, PRISONERS' AID SOCIETIES FREQUENTLY PREPARE PRESENTENCE REPORTS. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT THE USE OF SUCH REPORTS CANNOT BE TIED TO THE PROFESSIONALIZATION OF PROBATION OFFICERS NOR CAN THEY BE RELATED TO ANY CHANGE FROM A RETRIBUTIVE OR DETERRENT PENAL SYSTEM TO A REFORMATIVE ONE. HOWEVER, IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THE PROLIFERATION OF SUCH REPORTS IS LINKED TO PROBATION OFFICER ASPIRATIONS. EXTENSIVE FOOTNOTES AND REFERENCES ARE APPENDED. (GLR)