The purpose of this handbook is to answer common questions likely to be in the minds of newly appointed probation officers. It is intended also to give the new officers a common base of information prior to their attending one of the formal orientation schools conducted by the Federal Judicial Center. The handbook presents some of the basic information which otherwise would be covered in the orientation programs thus making available additional time during the classes to cope with the more complex issues.

The handbook will serve also as an outline for chief probation officers in their initial orientation discussions with new staff and may be valuable to measure the new officers' grasp of the federal probation scene.