The plan includes goals and objectives to demonstrate how the SPS proposes to meet public expectations of secure custody and good order. The plan also focuses on providing opportunities for prisoners to address their offending behavior, improve their education, and reduce the risk of offending. Further, the plan defines how successful achievement of each goal and objective will be measured and outlines performance levels that individual SPS components will be required to achieve. Goals of the SPS are to keep in custody those committed by the courts, to maintain good order in each prison, to care for prisoners with humanity, and to provide prisoners with a range of opportunities to exercise personal responsibility and to prepare for release. Objectives of the SPS are to operate a safe and secure prison service, to be responsive to the needs of those it serves, to deliver quality service and value in accordance with available resources, and to give prisoners a range of opportunities to allow them to use their time in prison responsibly. Key performance measures and targets are detailed for the 1998-2001 period, along with planning assumptions and primary objectives for prisons and directorates. Annexes provide additional information on targets and objectives, plans for individual prison establishments, the prison population, and prison staff. 26 tables