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Introduction: As we near the twenty-first century, the profession of probation is far more progressive than ever before. Computer and electronic technologies have advanced at a tremendous rate and provide the probation professional with an array of high-tech tools to monitor the whereabouts of offenders in the community. Today, services for offenders are more readily available and specialized caseloads allow for closer supervision and treatment of particular groups of offenders. The turn of the century also marks an era in which probation personnel are exposed to greater risks than in the past. In fact, a 1988 survey indicates that more than half of all probation officers will be the victim of some type of assault or significant hazardous incident during their probation career (Parsonage & Bushey, 1988). One reason for the increased risk is that now probation is being granted to offenders whose criminal acts, prior records, and drug abuse histories are more serious (Petersilia & Turner, 1990). As a result of both increasing violence and the potential for violence against probation personnel, many local, state, and federal probation agencies throughout ,the nation have introduced or increased safet