GENERAL BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON THE DEFINITION OF PAROLE AND ITS ORIGINS AND PRACTICE IN AMERICA AND CALIFORNIA ARE PRESENTED. EARLY AND CONTEMPORARY PAROLE ADMINISTRATION ARE EXAMINED, ALONG WITH THE ROLE OF THE ADULT AUTHORITY AND THAT OF THE PAROLE AND COMMUNITY SERVICES DIVISION. THE GOALS OF PAROLE ARE DISCUSSED IN RELATION TO THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICERS, AND THE RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF THE CLIENT. AGENTS AND THEIR CAREER PATTERN IS THEN FOCUSED ON, INCLUDING THE SOCIAL, EDUCATION, AND CAREER BACKGROUNDS FROM WHICH THEY CAME; WHY THEY CHOSE A CAREER IN PAROLE; WHAT PAROLE MEANS TO THEM; AND WHAT JOB SATISFACTION THEY ENJOYED AT THE BEGINNING OF THEIR PAROLE WORK. DEMOGRAPHIC DATA ON A SAMPLE OF 50 AGENTS, INCLUDING A COMPILATION OF AGENT EMPLOYMENT PRIOR TO PAROLE WORK, ARE PROVIDED. JOB SATISFACTION AND DISSATISFACTION ARE EXAMINED AS PART OF THE STUDY OF THE CONTINUING MOVEMENT AND CHANGE IN THE AGENT'S CAREER WHILE ADVANCING FROM 'TRAINEE' TO 'SEASONED VETERAN'. ONE CHAPTER EXPLORES THE ACTUAL AGENT TASK OF DEALING WITH CLIENTS, AND DISCUSSES THE SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES AROUND WHICH AGENTS OFTEN FIND IT DIFFICULT TO DEVELOP AND MAINTAIN A PROFESSIONAL IDENTITY. THE STUDY MEASURES AND ASSESSES HOW PAROLE AGENTS REACT TO, RATIONALIZE, AND DEAL WITH THE VARIOUS CONFUSIONS, CONFLICTS, AND PRESSURES OF THEIR JOB. THE FINAL CHAPTER DESCRIBES AGENTS' FAILING SENSE OF POWER AND AUTONOMY AS WELL AS THE SOPHISTICATED AWARENESS OF THEIR OWN VULNERABILITY TO THOSE OVER WHOM THEY PREVIOUSLY BELIEVED THEY HAD CONTROL -- THE CLIENTS. THE CHAPTER CONCLUDES WITH AN EXAMINATION OF THE REASONS WHY SOME PAROLE AGENTS LEAVE PAROLE WHEREAS MOST REMAIN UNTIL RETIREMENT. THE SCOPE OF THE STUDY IS LIMITED, AND THE RESEARCH CONSISTED OF DATA GATHERING THROUGH INTERVIEWS OF PAROLE AGENTS IN THREE CALIFORNIA DISTRICTS. THE QUESTIONNAIRE FORM THAT WAS USED FOR THE STUDY IS PRESENTED IN THE TEXT, AND THE 1967-1968 PROGRESS REPORT OF THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS IS INCLUDED. (DAG)