PAROLE SELECTION IN ENGLAND AND WALES IS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH A JOINT EFFORT OF LOCAL REVIEW COMMITTEES ATTACHED TO EACH PRISON, A CENTRAL PAROLE BOARD, AND THE SECRETARY OF STATE. THE COMMITTEES AND BOARD MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS; THE SECRETARY MAKES THE ACTUAL DECISION TO RELEASE. THE FILTERING PROCESS BY WHICH PAROLE DECISIONS ARE MADE IS SAID TO REFLECT EXCESSIVE CAUTION AND TO CAUSE PROBLEMS FOR INMATES. CONSIDERABLE TIME IS REQUIRED TO REACH A DECISION IN EACH CASE, USUALLY 3 TO 4 MONTHS BUT SOMETIMES MUCH LONGER. OTHER PROBLEMS RELATE TO THE LIMITED ROLE PLAYED BY PRISONERS IN THE SELECTION PROCESS AND TO GENERAL AURA OF SECRECY THAT SURROUNDS THE PROCESS. A LESS BUREAUCRATIC APPROACH IS OUTLINED WHICH WOULD MINIMIZE DELAY WITHOUT SACRIFICING CAREFUL CONSIDERATION OF EACH CASE, ALLOW EACH INMATE GREATER PARTICIPATION, AND MAKE THE DECISIONMAKING PROCESS MORE PERSONAL AND VISIBLE FROM THE INMATE'S PERSPECTIVE. ELEMENTS OF THE PROPOSED SYSTEM INCLUDE PAROLE HEARINGS, DISCLOSURE OF REASONS FOR PAROLE DECISIONS, AND PROVISIONS FOR REVIEW OF DECISIONS. IT IS FURTHER RECOMMENDED THAT THE SECRETARY OF STATE BE REMOVED FROM THE SELECTION PROCESS AND THAT LOCAL REVIEW COMMITTEES BE REPLACED BY REGIONAL PAROLE BOARDS. THE NATIONAL PAROLE BOARD WOULD REVIEW INMATE APPEALS OF PAROLE REFUSALS BY REGIONAL BOARDS, FORMULATE POLICY AND ESTABLISH DECISIONMAKING GUIDELINES, AND PROMOTE PUBLIC RELATIONS. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS INCLUDED. (LKM)