Dividing the Youth Authority into juvenile and youthful offender agencies would potentially have a number of advantages: (1) the mission of each agency could be more clearly defined and discharged; (2) the State, over time, could completely eliminate the mixing of juveniles and adults in secure programs; and (3) a newly formed juvenile justice department would be able to work more closely with juvenile courts and probation to develop a wider range of local options for committed youth. Abolishing the Youthful Offender Parole Board would be advantageous because the current, politically-driven policy and operation of the Board has led to a situation in which institutions are dangerously overcrowded. It is time for professionals to take the responsibility for directing youth policy on the State and local level.