THE RESEARCH METHODOLOGY FOR THIS STUDY, DIRECTED AT NATIONAL PAROLE BOARD MEMBERS AND PERSONS RESPONSIBLE FOR DEVISING RELEASE METHODS, INCLUDED COLLECTING EMPIRICAL DATA ON PAROLE DECISIONMAKING PROCESSES AND FACTORS INFLUENCING THE PROCESS AND REVIEWING THE FILES OF 207 INMATES ELIGIBLE FOR PAROLE IN 1975. RESEARCHERS ATTENDED THE PAROLE HEARINGS FOR THE SAMPLE OF INMATES AND MONITORED POSTHEARING AND DECISIONMAKING PROCESSES. A MAJOR CONCERN OF THE STUDY IS HOW THE NATIONAL PAROLE BOARD, A FEDERAL AGENCY, DELEGATES SUBSTANTIAL DISCRETIONARY POWER FOR RELEASING INMATES, CARRIES OUT ITS ROLE, EXERCISES ITS POWERS, AND DEVELOPS CRITERIA AND PROCEDURES. AN OVERVIEW OF THE PAROLE PROCESS AND ITS OPERATION INCLUDES A SUMMARY OF THE COMPOSITION OF THE BOARD AND SEVERAL CHARTS ILLUSTRATING THE EVENTS IN IMPRISONMENT, PAROLE, AND OTHER FORMS OF RELEASE. THE CASE PREPARATION PHASE FOR THE INMATE SAMPLE IS DESCRIBED AND INCLUDES AN EXPLANATION OF THE DOCUMENTATION USUALLY FOUND IN THE PAROLE SERVICE FILES. THE FILE DOCUMENTATION IS ANALYZED AND THE INFLUENCE THAT FILE CONTRIBUTERS HAVE ON THE PAROLE DECISION IS DISCUSSED. THE INMATES' ROLE IN THE PAROLE PROCESS AND THEIR ACCESS TO PAROLE INFORMATION IS ADDRESSED. THE FINAL CHAPTER DEALS WITH POLICYMAKING BY THE BOARD AND SUGGESTS FUNCTIONAL IMPROVEMENTS. TABULAR STUDY DATA ARE PROVIDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--DAG)