IN MARCH OF 1965, THE OHIO LEGISLATURE ABOLISHED THE BUREAU OF PROBATION AND PAROLE AND ESTABLISHED THE ADULT PAROLE AUTHORITY. THE ADULT PAROLE AUTHORITY HAS EMPHASIZED A BLEND OF SOUND ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGES AND APPLICATION OF MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLES TO PAROLE AND PROBATION, PARTICULARLY MANAGEMENT BY OBJECTIVES. ALSO IN MARCH OF 1965, THE OHIO PENAL POPULATION PEAKED AT 12,018. SINCE THEN, THE POPULATION HAS DECLINED STEADILY UNTIL IT REACHED A LOW OF 7,700 IN FALL 1973. THIS DECLINE IS ATTRIBUTABLE TO A NUMBER OF FACTORS, AMONG WHICH ARE THE FOLLOWING: (1) A NEW POLICY OF OF DEALING WITH TECHNICAL PAROLE VIOLATORS WHICH DOES NOT RETURN A PAROLEE TO PRISON FOR A PAROLE VIOLATION UNLESS HE HAS BROKEN A LAW; (2) THE INCREASING USE OF 'SHOCK' PAROLE, WHICH PERMITS THE PAROLE BOARD TO RELEASE NONDANGEROUS FIRST OFFENDERS AFTER THEY HAVE SERVED 6 MONTHS IN PRISON; AND (3) AN INCREASING USE OF PROBATION. PAROLE SUCCESS IS DETERMINED BY THE NUMBER OF PAROLEES WHO COMPLETE PAROLE AND ARE GIVEN FINAL RELEASE CERTIFICATES, AND FAILURES CONSIST OF PAROLED OFFENDERS WHO ARE RETURNED TO PRISON WHILE ON PAROLE. WHILE THE NUMBER OF PAROLE VIOLATORS HAS DECLINED OVER THE YEARS, THE NUMBER OF PAROLEES RETURNED TO PRISON BECAUSE OF NEW CHARGES HAS REMAINED FAIRLY STABLE. DATA ON NUMBER OF PAROLEES SUPERVISED, RETURNED TO PRISON FOR NEW CRIMES, AND PERCENT OF FAILURE ARE REPORTED FOR EACH YEAR FROM 1965 THROUGH 1975. SINCE JANUARY 1966, 6,782 OFFENDERS HAVE BEEN RELEASED UNDER THE SHOCK PROBATION PROVISION; 17 PERCENT OF THESE HAVE REVERTED TO CRIME OR HAVE BEEN RETURNED TO PRISON FOR PROBATION VIOLATION. THE OPERATION OF SHOCK PROBATION AND SHOCK PAROLE IS DESCRIBED. TABULAR DATA ARE INCLUDED. (RCB)