The staff-inmate ratio method is based on the assumption that inmate population size is the major determinant of personnel requirements. Ratios may be selected on the basis of historical inmate-staff ratios, national or regional trends, or administrative judgment. Refinements of the approach may divide the inmate population by demographic and offense characteristics and specific manpower categories (e.g., correctional officers, physicians, counselors). The standard method focuses on the volume of services provided by personnel. Data required include inmate population, quantitative norms or standards for services, work assignments, and staffing patterns. A more sophisticated approach involves identifying and quantifying the specific needs of a population by determining the kinds, quality, and amounts of services needed. The economic approach departs from the conceptualization of staffing in terms of needs and focuses on measuring and projecting relationships between correctional requirements and resources. A variant of this method involves correlating consumption of correctional services with economic factors. Finally, the program's specific method focuses on program requirements as determined by analysis and judgment of specific program needs. Each of these methods offers advantages and disadvantages that must be considered. 5 references