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LARGE METROPOLITAN PAROLE AGENCY OF A STATE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS (DC) WAS SELECTED FOR THIS STUDY. THE FIRST PHASE OF THE STUDY, LASTING APPROXIMATELY 6 MONTHS, CONSISTED LARGELY OF INTERVIEWING PAROLE OFFICERS (PO) SUPERVISORS, AND DC OFFICIALS IN THEIR OFFICES. THE SECOND PHASE OF THE DATA COLLECTION INVOLVED OBSERVATION OF THE POS IN THE FIELD FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS. THE THIRD PHASE OF THE STUDY, LASTING ABOUT A YEAR, INVOLVED TESTING THE THEORY OF ORGANIZATIONAL PROCESSES DEVELOPED FROM THE FIRST TWO PHASES BY A FOLLOWUP OF SPECIFIC CASES. THE BUREAUCRATIC DYNAMIC OF THE PAROLE OPERATION IS DEFINED IN TERM OF EACH TEAM OF BRANCH OFFICES, AS WELL AS THE CENTRAL ADMINISTRATION, ACTING TO FURTHER ITS …