An introduction outlines the rationale for the project, summarizes the literature regarding the role of vocational education in American penal institutions, and breaks down the problem areas into twelve categories (institutional and philosophical factors, planning, funding and program size, inmate selection and incentive, linkage to other programs and services in prisons and the community, teaching, equipment and facilities, counseling and transition services, placements, followup and evaluation, and research). The Missouri prison system is then described with respect to its organization, the nature of its inmate population, and its vocational education program. An indepth discussion details the needs for vocational education in the correctional systems. A combination of interviews with prison system officials, surveys conducted among prisoners, and citations in the literature are used to outline considerations which must be given to the needs of inmates, the institutions, and society in designing a vocational education system. A detailed examination of the functioning of vocational education Missouri prisons is conducted within the framework of the 12 problem areas. Major weaknesses, such as lack of formal teaching experience by teachers, and deficient equipment and materials are identified. A series of 51 recommendations cover all aspects of vocational education in Missouri's correctional institutions. Appendixes reproduce the needs assessment survey form used by the projecct to determine vocational trainees' perceptions of corrections vocational programs, summarize survey findings from trainee respondents, and detail evaluations of equipment and facilities in 27 of the 29 vocational programs in the Missouri prisons. About 150 references are provided in a bibliography.