THE PAROLE PROCESS IS DEFENDED AGAINST CALLS FOR DETERMINATE AND MANDATORY SENTENCING: PAROLE CAN PROVIDE A SECONDARY SCREENING PROCESS THAT MAY BALANCE SEVERE SENTENCING DISPARITIES; IT ENABLES AN EARLY AND RELATIVELY SAFE RELEASE OF MANY OFFENDERS WHO OTHERWISE WOULD BE INSTITUTIONALIZED FOR INORDINATE PERIODS OF TIME; IT OFFERS A GENERAL DETERRENT AND CONTROL FOR THE MAJORITY OF SELECTED OFFENDERS WHO PARTICIPATE. THE MEETINGS AND DECISIONS OF THE BOARDS FOR MALE AND FEMALE OFFENDERS ARE REVIEWED; AND TABLES PROVIDE INFORMATION ON PAROLE RELEASES AND COMPLETIONS, LENGTHS OF POSSIBLE PAROLE PERIODS FOR MINIMUM TERM SENTENCES, AND NUMBERS OF OFFENDERS RECEIVING MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM TERMS FOR THE YEAR. TABLES OF PAROLE DATA ARE SUPPLIED.