Many jails were old and outdated, jailers were elected and paid on a fee basis, inmate programs were almost nonexistent, the poor served their terms while the wealthy were released, and it was almost impossible to get medical or mental health professionals to provide services for inmates. The new legislation addresses many of these problems. It removes the jailors from the old English fee system and places them on salary, provides bonuses for professional training of staff, and requires jails to provide a documented line-item budget annually. Other legislation provides State funds, through the issuance of bonds to build new local jails and district jails. It calls for the issuance of a manual of standards by which to operate and maintain jail services and provides State jail inspectors with the authority to recommend closing of jails that fail to meet minimum standards. In addition, legislation now gives the State Corrections Cabinet the power to close those jails that are beyond repair or those which the fiscal courts refuse to renovate. While some progress has been made in improving jail operations and conditions in Kentucky, much work still is needed. Photographs.