ALTHOUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NATIONAL DATA BASE OF PAROLE STATISTICS WAS CALLED FOR IN THE WICKERSHAM REPORT IN THE 1940'S, IT WAS NOT UNTIL 1972 THAT SUCH A DATA BASE, USING UNIFORM DEFINITIONS, WAS FULLY OPERATIONAL. THIS COLLECTION OF UNIFORM STATISTICS RECEIVES REPORTS FROM 55 AGENCIES IN THE 50 STATES, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AND PUERTO RICO. ABOUT A QUARTER OF A MILLION PERSONS HAVE BEEN FOLLOWED TO DETERMINE PAROLE OUTCOMES, ALL FOR 1 YEAR AND SOME FOR AS LONG AS 4 YEARS. THIS INFORMATION IS CALLED OF IMMENSE AID IN FORMULATING PAROLE POLICY. THE SECOND POSITIVE STEP IS CALLED THE EFFORT BY PAROLE OFFICIALS TO ELIMINATE THE UNFAIRNESS AND UNCERTAINTY WHICH CHARACTERIZED PAROLE DECISIONS IN THE PAST. THE NEW EMPHASIS ON CAREFULLY ARTICULATED PAROLE POLICY IS DESIGNED TO REPLACE CAPRICIOUSNESS WITH FAIR AND JUST TREATMENT FOR LIKE OFFENDERS. THE THIRD POSITIVE CONTRIBUTION IS SEEN AS A SERIES OF FEDERAL PAROLE STUDIES. IN ONE STUDY OF 1,594 MALES FOLLOWED FOR AT LEAST 12 MONTHS, IT WAS FOUND THAT MEN RELEASED ON PAROLE SUCCEEDED IN ADJUSTING TO COMMUNITY LIFE WITHOUT REARREST IN 89 PERCENT OF CASES. FOR MANDATORY RELEASE CASES SUCCESS WAS 74 PERCENT AND FOR DISCHARGE AT EXPIRATION OF SENTENCE IT WAS 68 PERCENT. EVEN WHEN A CORRECTION WAS MADE FOR THE SELECTION OF BETTER RISKS FOR PAROLE, A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE REMAINED. THIS SEEMS TO INDICATE THAT THE PAROLE PROCESS, IN SOME MANNER, AFFECTS CRIME RATES AND THAT IT SEEMS TO CONTROL CRIME. REFERENCES TO THIS STUDY AND OTHERS ARE APPENDED. (GLR)