THE OVERVIEW COVERS THE USE OF PROBATION AS A DISPOSITION IN NEW ZEALAND; THE PROBATION SERVICE'S ORGANIZATION, FUNCTIONS, STAFFING, AND PERSONNEL RECRUITMENT AND TRAINING PRACTICES; AND OTHER ASPECTS OF AGENCY OPERATIONS. SINCE THE PROBATION SERVICE WAS REORGANIZED IN 1951, THE NUMBER OF PROBATION OFFICERS HAS GROWN FROM 7 TO 128. IN 1968, THE AGENCY HANDLED OVER 6,000 CASES. THE MAIN FUNCTIONS OF THE PROBATION SERVICE ARE THE PREPARATION OF PRESENTENCE REPORTS AND THE SUPERVISION OF PERSONS RELEASED ON PROBATION, INCLUDING THOSE RELEASED DIRECTLY BY THE COURT AND THOSE RELEASED FOLLOWING A TERM OF IMPRISONMENT. IN ADDITION, THE AGENCY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR IMPLEMENTING A VARIETY OF ALTERNATIVES TO INCARCERATION, SUCH AS PERIODIC DETENTION FOR YOUTHS AND ADULTS, PROBATION COMBINED WITH COMMUNITY WORK, HOSTELS FOR PROBATIONERS, AND PRERELEASE AND POSTRELEASE HOSTELS FOR INMATES AND FORMER INMATES. THE PROBATION SERVICE HAS ESTABLISHED A DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT-PLANNING CENTER IN AUCKLAND AND ENGAGES IN COOPERATIVE ACTIVITIES WITH A VOLUNTARY PRISONERS' AID AND REHABILITATION SOCIETY AND WITH OTHER PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS. A STUDY OF 1,915 OFFENDERS RELEASED ON PROBATION IN 1964 CONCLUDED THAT RECIDIVISM IS LOWER FOR PROBATIONERS THAN FOR OFFENDERS WHO HAVE BEEN INSTITUTIONALIZED. A SUMMARY OF THE FINDINGS FROM THAT STUDY IS PROVIDED, TOGETHER WITH STATISTICS ON THE PROBATION SERVICE'S 1968 CASELOAD. (LKM)