The Probation Commissioner, Catherine M. Abate, said the department knew of no problems in the family.

Would a racist have appointed Kevin Smyley as Probation Commissioner?

New York City's new Probation Commissioner, Michael Jacobson, believes that a restructuring plan could improve the effectiveness of probation supervision while saving money.

Rocco A. Pozzi, Westchester's Probation Commissioner, questioned whether license revocations would be effective in deterring drunken drivers.

Catherine Abate, Mayor Dinkins's new Probation Commissioner, therefore proposes simplifying the form for plea-bargained cases.

Mr. Pozzi has been Probation Commissioner for nine years.

Michael P. Jacobson, the city's Probation Commissioner, said potential bidders had expressed strong interest in building the devices.

"New York City never thought of probation as an effective department," said the Probation Commissioner, Kevin T. Smyley, in a recent interview.

"The structures that were in place allowed people to fall through the cracks fairly easily," said Raul Russi, the Probation Commissioner.

She was selected in 1990 as the first Probation Commissioner in the Dinkins Administration.