Findings show that the number of new correctional officer positions offered in 1996 will represent only half as many as were offered in 1995. Although corrections remains a male- dominated profession, the percentage of female officers continues to increase. Minority representation is strongest in the South and Southwest. Nationally, the ratio of officers to inmates remained relatively stable, increasing slightly from 1 officer for every 5.3 inmates in 1994 to 1 officer for every 5.7 inmates in early 1996. Employee turnover remains high in select jurisdictions. Arkansas has an annual turnover rate of 38 percent, the highest reported. Problems in recruiting qualified officer candidates were reported by more than one-third of U.S. respondents (36 percent). Regarding entry requirements, most jurisdictions require prospective officers to be between 18 and 21 years old, to be a U.S. citizen, to have obtained a high school diploma or its equivalent, and to have no felony convictions. Some type of pre-employment screening is conducted by nearly all responding departments of corrections. Pre-service training hours ranged from 0 to 411; the average was 221 hours. Starting salaries for recruits or new officers range from $12,931 to $31,805 annually. A table presents survey information by State and includes information on Canadian jurisdictions.