Past reports and studies that have called for improved quality and productivity in corrections failed to forecast the crowding and violence in today's prisons, the rising crime rate in the U.S., and the extent of citizen and political dissatisfaction with the correctional system. This author contends that some of the most likely applications of TQM in corrections lie in identifying corrections' clients, developing methods to track performance, and ensuring that correctional staff team members seek continuous improvement in all operations.