Improving staff skills is becoming increasingly important to reduce liability problems, improve the consistency of operations, and increase the probability that policies and programs will be carried out. Although standards can be potentially embarrassing, they are useful for defining the minimum level of performance expected. Training standards must address the definitional issues regarding quality and effectiveness, distinguish between good and poor designs, meet the skill-development needs of both the organization and the employees throughout their careers, and clarify the values and principles that are the foundation of correctional training. The first correctional training standards were developed in the late 1970's by the American Correctional Association's Commission on Accreditation for Corrections. In addition, beginning in 1979, the American Association of Correctional Training Personnel has developed qualitative standards for correctional training. Thus, the field of correctional training is gradually being defined, and the standards represent steps in corrections' efforts to attain the characteristics of a professional occupation. 23 references and appended draft standards.