PROBATION OFFICERS MUST DECIDE WHICH YOUTHS SHOULD BE DETAINED, WHETHER A YOUTH SHOULD BE SENT TO COURT, OR TO A SOCIAL AGENCY, WHETHER RESTITUTION OF VICTIMS IS NEEDED, AND WHETHER PSYCHOLOGICAL CARE IS REQUIRED. OTHER DECISIONS THEY MAKE IN THEIR JOB ARE WHICH FORM PROBATION SHOULD TAKE, WHICH FORM OF COUNSELING IS APPROPRIATE, WHICH TYPE OF INSTITUTION CAN BEST CARE FOR INDIVIDUAL JUVENILES, WHEN AND TO WHOM A YOUTH SHOULD BE RELEASED, AND WHEN TO CLOSE A CASE. A PROBATION OFFICER SHOULD BE THE BEST FRIEND A CHILD IN DIFFICULTY HAS. AN OFFICER'S PRIORITIES FOR DECISIONMAKING ARE TO DETERMINE IF A YOUTH NEEDS HELP AND TO DECIDE WHETHER THE JUVENILE COURT OR ANOTHER PROGRAM CAN BEST HELP THE YOUTH, AND TO CONSIDER WHETHER THE SOLUTION CAN BE CARRIED OUT IN THE COMMUNITY. FURTHERMORE, IN ORDER TO MAKE THE BEST RECOMMENDATIONS FOR A YOUTH, THE OFFICER MUST EXAMINE HIS OWN BIASES. THE RECOMMENDATIONS SHOULD BE REALISTIC. THE SPEAKER IS A CHIEF JUVENILE PROBATION OFFICER. FOR RELATED MATERIALS, SEE NCJ 67673-78 AND 67680-81.