A CERTAIN NUMBER OF CADETS ARE ACCEPTED EACH YEAR AT THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TRAINING SCHOOL IN WELLINGTON AND UNDERGO AN INTENSIVE 2-YEAR COURSE. THE COURSE COVERS BOTH PRACTICAL AND THEORETICAL SKILLS AND IS BASED ON THE PREMISE THAT TRADITIONAL TRAINING METHODS ARE INADEQUATE FOR A PRISON SERVICE THAT VIEWS ITS MAIN FUNCTION AS REHABILITATION OF THE OFFENDER. THE STAFF TRAINING SCHOOL IS ATTACHED TO A MALE, MEDIUM SECURITY PRISON THAT ACTS AS A REMAND, CLASSIFICATION, AND SHORT TERM HOLDING INSTITUTION FOR THE WELLINGTON AREA. APPLICATIONS FOR ENTRY TO THE PROGRAM MAY BE ACCEPTED FROM YOUNG MEN BETWEEN 17 AND 20 YEARS OF AGE WHO HAVE A MINIMUM OF 3 YEARS OF SECONDARY EDUCATION. THERE IS A FAIRLY HIGH DROPOUT RATE FROM THE PROGRAM PRIOR TO GRADUATION, POSSIBLY DUE TO THE ACADEMIC ORIENTATION OF THE COURSE AND THE FACT THAT IT IS ONLY AFTER ENTRY TO THE PROGRAM THAT THE CADET REALLY LEARNS THE NATURE OF THE JOB. ABOUT 10 PERCENT OF THOSE WHO GRADUATE SUBSEQUENTLY LEAVE THE PRISON SERVICE. A DISTINCTIVE PART OF THE TRAINING SCHEME IS EMPHASIS ON THE THEORETICAL SUBJECTS OF CRIMINOLOGY AND PENOLOGY. ON COMPLETION OF THE COURSE, THE NEW OFFICER STARTS AS A BASIC GRADE OFFICER FOR A PROBATIONARY PERIOD OF 6 MONTHS BEFORE HIS APPOINTMENT IS FORMALLY CONFIRMED. PROMOTION WITHIN THE PRISON SERVICE IS FAIRLY RAPID. THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE TRAINING SCHEME FOR CADETS AND THE PRISON SERVICE AS A WHOLE ARE DISCUSSED, AND PROBLEMS THAT MUST BE FACED IN ANY ATTEMPT TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF TRAINING GIVEN TO BASIC GRADE INSTITUTIONAL STAFF ARE NOTED. A BRIEF OUTLINE OF ALTERNATIVE STAFF TRAINING METHODS IS PRESENTED. REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (DEP)