CAREFULLY SCREENED AND TRAINED EX-OFFENDERS WORK UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF A SENIOR PAROLE OFFICER, HANDLING THEIR OWN CASELOADS AND DEVELOPING JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR PAROLEES. SINCE THE AIDES ARE FORMER PAROLEES THEMSELVES, THEY ARE PARTICULARLY AWARE OF THE ATTITUDES, NEEDS AND POTENTIAL PROBLEMS OF PAROLEES. AT THE SAME TIME, THE POA PROGRAM CREATES VIABLE EMPLOYMENT FOR EX-OFFENDERS. DEVELOPED IN 1972 BY THE ADULT PAROLE AUTHORITY OF THE OHIO DEPARTMENT OF REHABILITATION AND CORRECTIONS, THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN DESIGNATED AN EXEMPLARY PROJECT BY LEAA'S NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE. INDIVIDUAL CHAPTERS DISCUSS THE SPECIFIC ORGANIZATION OF THE PAROLE UNITS WHERE POA'S ARE SITUATED, THE ADMINISTRATIVE AND SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE WORK OF THE POA, THE RECRUITMENT AND SELECTION PROCESS, THE FORMAL TRAINING PROGRAM DEVELOPED FOR RECRUITS, AND A DISCUSSION OF THE ACTIVITIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF POA'S (CASE MANAGEMENT, JOB DEVELOPMENT, SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS, AND OTHER PAROLEE SUPPORT ACTIVITIES). IN ADDITION, THE RESULTS OF AN OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY STUDY OF THE POA PROJECT ARE PRESENTED AND THE MAJOR COST FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH OPERATING A PROGRAM OF THIS TYPE ARE EXPLAINED. ATTENTION IS ALSO GIVEN TO THE ISSUES WHICH MAY AFFECT THE DEGREE TO WHICH THE OPERATIONS AND APPROACH OF THE OHIO POA PROJECT CAN BE USED IN OTHER COMMUNITIES. A FINAL CHAPTER DISCUSSES FUTURE RESEARCH NEEDS AND PRESCRIBES AN EVALUATION DESIGN FOR MONITORING THE PERFORMANCE OF POA'S.