PAROLEES AND PAROLE OFFICERS WERE INTERVIEWED. THE FIRST PART OF THE STUDY DESCRIBES THE DEVELOPMENT OF PAROLE, ITS ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE IN NEW YORK STATE, THE PAROLE BOARD, AND THE PAROLE SERVICE. THE SECOND SECTION IS DEVOTED TO DECISION MAKING. TOPICS INCLUDE SENTENCING, THE CASE FILE, THE PAROLE RELEASE INTERVIEW, AND RELEASE CRITERIA. THE NEXT SECTION, COMMUNITY SUPERVISION, DISCUSSES THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE COMMUNITY SUPERVISION PROGRAM, THE EMPHASIS OF COMMUNITY SUPERVISION, THE PROBLEMS OF THE PAROLEE, THE PAROLE AGREEMENT, AND REVOCATION. THE FINAL SECTION CONTAINS CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE EFFECTIVENESS AND USEFULNESS OF PAROLE.