STATISTICS INDICATE THAT CRIMES COMMITTED BY FOREIGNERS DOUBLED FROM 1974 TO 1978, THAT YOUNG FOREIGNERS RECEIVE LESS PROBATION ASSISTANCE THAN NATIVES, AND THAT CRIME RATES AMONG YOUNG FOREIGNERS ARE LIKELY TO RISE AS THE SECOND GENERATION OF IMMIGRANTS GROWS UP UNDEREDUCATED, UNTRAINED, AND WITHOUT SUFFICIENT KNOWLEDGE OF GERMAN. EXPERIENCE SUGGESTS THAT PROBATION PRACTICES ARE THE SAME FOR GERMAN AND FOREIGN PROBATIONERS. HOWEVER, PROBATION ASSISTANTS WITH KNOWLEDGE OF THE PARTICULAR LANGUAGE REQUIRED FOR A FOREIGN PROBATIONER ARE DIFFICULT TO FIND. SPECIAL PROBATION ASSISTANTS RECEIVE A DOSSIER DESCRIBING STATUS AND SPECIAL PROBLEMS OF THE PROBATIONER; THEY ADD THEIR OWN RECORDS OF CONTACTS WITH THE PROBATIONERS. THESE PROBATION ASSISTANTS MAINTAIN REGULAR PERSONAL CONTACT WITH PROBATIONERS, WHILE THE CHIEF PROBATION OFFICER ADVISES ASSISTANTS IN METHODOLOGICAL, PROCEDURAL, AND LEGAL MATTERS AND ON PROBATIONERS' PROBLEMS. PARTICULAR DISADVANTAGES EXPERIENCED BY FOREIGN PROBATIONERS INCLUDE THE TENDENCY OF THE IMMIGRATION OFFICE TO USE PROBATIONERS' RECORDS AGAINST THEM REGARDLESS OF POSITIVE FINDINGS IN COURT DECISIONS, DELAYS IN DECISIONS OF THE IMMIGRATION OFFICE AT A POINT WHEN REHABILITATION HAS ALREADY PASSED SUCCESSFULLY THROUGH THE INITIAL STAGES, AND THE FREEZE ON WORK PERMITS FOR FOREIGNERS ESTABLISHED IN 1977. THE LARGE NUMBER OF PERMANENT IMMIGRANTS IN WEST GERMANY MAKES THE AVAILABILITY OF EQUAL SANCTIONS AND PROBATION ASSISTANCE FOR FOREIGNERS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL. SEVERAL TABLES AND NOTES ARE FURNISHED. --IN GERMAN. (KMD)