This study is based on the author's participation in approximately 300 parole hearings over 37 hearing days. Juveniles committed to secure confinement receive indeterminate sentences and can be held until age 21. The Parole Authority determines confinement length, parole conditions, and the discharge date. Primary parole decisionmaking criteria are institutional performance, current offense and prior adjudication history, the dispositional guideline, and the adequacy of the parole plan. The Parole Authority overemphasizes institutional performance due to the strong treatment emphasis and the advocacy role of corrections workers on behalf of confined youth. Holding juveniles who are uncooperative in treatment for longer time periods raises sentencing equity issues. The Parole Authority has not dealt with a juvenile's right to refuse treatment. Assessing institutional performance is complicated by the absence of reliable criteria for measuring successful rehabilitation. Future research should focus on sentencing disparity and parole outcome measurement. 21 references.