Federal Probation Belongs with the Courts

Abstract

This article traces the history of the transfer of the Federal Pro bation System from the Department of Justice to the Administra tive Office of the United States Courts, pointing out that the change was not made "by accident." Further, the charge of frag mentation in the federal correctional service implies, erroneously, a lack of coordination. Administration should be with the agency which provides the greatest flow of work; federal probation offi cers perform more than 75 per cent of their work for the courts. The development of federal probation under court administra tion is set forth, in respect to both reduced caseloads and the increased quality and number of personnel. Finally, the basic objections to having probation in the same department that di rects the prosecution are listed.