Factors influencing the status, selection, and training of prison staff in a particular country include the history and traditions of the prison service, the country's size and political and administrative structure, and the stage of development of corrections policies. General principles that all countries should follow include making prisons the responsibility of a special branch of the agency that deals with corrections and recognition that the selection and training of prison staff are among the most important tasks of a prison administration. Selection of nonspecialized custodial staff should be based on personality as well as education and intelligence; initial training and inservice training are essential. Adequate methods of assessing personality should be used to select managerial staff, who should also receive extensive training. Additional recommendations and appended summaries of current practice in the member countries, list of training centers, and 148 references