THE ORIGINAL LAW ESTABLISHING PROBATION IN 1920 WAS INTENDED TO PREVENT RECIDIVISM, NOT TO PROTECT SOCIETY, BUT THE EFFORT MET WITH LITTLE SUCCESS UNTIL THE 1962 JUVENILE COURT LAW DEFINED THE FORM OF MODERN PROBATION SERVICES, AT LEAST FOR SUPERVISION OF CERTAIN JUVENILE OFFENDERS. SERVICES WERE PROVIDED FOR ADULT PROBATION OR PAROLE IN 1975; A PROBATION OFFICER IS APPOINTED AT THE DISCRETION OF THE JUDGE FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE OFFENDER'S TERM. THE PROBATION OFFICER MUST MONITOR THE PROBATIONER'S PROGRESS AND REPORT REGULARLY TO THE JUDGE. A PRINCIPAL PROBLEM IN DEVELOPING A PROBATION SYSTEM RUN BY THE ASSOCIATION FOR PROBATION WORK AND JUVENILE ASSISTANCE HAS BEEN TRAINING EXPERIENCED ADULTS AS PROBATION OFFICERS, FIRST IN A 1-YEAR PROGRAM, MORE RECENTLY IN A 2-YEAR PROGRAM. THE PRIVATE ASSOCIATION IS NOW ASSISTED BY THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT. REGULAR TEAM DISCUSSIONS WITH CHIEF PROBATION OFFICERS AND WORKERS, CONSULTATION WITH PSYCHIATRISTS, MAXIMUM CASE LOADS OF OFFICERS (30), SPECIALIZATION OF PROBATION OFFICERS, AND THE USE OF VOLUNTEER WORKERS ARE PROVIDED FOR BY LAW. A CONTROVERSIAL 1979 LAW PLACES THE FUNCTIONS OF THE PRIVATE ASSOCIATION, I.E., PROBATION WORK, AS WELL AS MANAGEMENT OF JUVENILE HOSTELS AND AFTER-CARE CENTERS, IN THE HANDS OF THE GOVERNMENT, WHICH MAY TEND ONLY TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE BUREAUCRATIC NATURE OF THE ORGANIZATION. THE EFFICIENCY OF THE ORGANIZATION CAN ONLY BE MAINTAINED IF THE MULTIDISCIPLINARY PROBATION TEAMS REMAIN SMALL AND COMMUNICATIONS ARE GOOD. A LIST OF CONTINUING EDUCATION SEMINARS FOR PROBATION OFFICERS SPONSORED BY THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT IS SUPPLIED. --IN GERMAN. (KMD)