THE FIRST STUDY EXAMINED MINORITY RECRUITMENT, SCREENING, SELECTION, PROMOTION, AND RETENTION POLICIES AND PRACTICES OF STATE PRISONS IN CALIFORNIA, MICHIGAN, MISSISSIPPI, AND OHIO. THE FINDINGS INDICATE THAT NATIONAL STANDARDS AND GOALS FOR MINORITY RECRUITMENT ARE NOT BEING MET, AND THAT THERE IS LITTLE HOPE OF MAJOR IMPROVEMENT IN THE NEAR FUTURE. THE SECOND STUDY EMPLOYS DATA FROM CALIFORNIA, LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI, NEW JERSEY, MICHIGAN, AND OHIO TO DETERMINE THE NUMBER OF MINORITIES IN CORRECTIONS-RELATED OCCUPATIONS. MINORITY GROUPS ARE FOUND TO BE UNDERREPRESENTED IN SUCH OCCUPATIONS IN 1975, AND THE UNDERREPRESENTATION IS PREDICTED TO CONTINUE THROUGH 1980. EFFORTS TO MAKE MINORITY STUDENTS IN SPECIALIZED AREAS (E.G., MEDICINE, LAW, SOCIAL WORK) AWARE OF CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN CORRECTIONS ARE URGED. A STUDY OF THE ATTITUDES AND PERCEPTIONS OF BLACK CORRECTIONAL EMPLOYEES INVOLVED INTERVIEWS WITH 304 BLACK CUSTODIAL OFFICERS, 117 OTHER BLACK CORRECTIONAL PERSONNEL; 128 BLACK INMATES; 52 WARDENS, SUPERINTENDENTS, AND THEIR ASSISTANTS; AND 35 FORMER CORRECTIONAL EMPLOYEES. SURVEY FINDINGS PROVIDE THE BASIS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS PERTAINING TO RECRUITMENT, SELECTION, AND RETENTION PRINCIPLES. NO TABULAR DATA ARE INCLUDED.