This research examines problems in measuring jail use and discusses a typology of jail use that involves simultaneous consideration of daily population rates and annual jail admission rates. Data from the 1986 Annual Survey of Jails are used in a comparison of jail use in 345 large jail jurisdictions across the country. The research indicates that the typology is useful in describing patterns of jail use. Large and consistent differences in jail use are associated with crime rates and region of the country. These differences are also related to crowding, capacity, and the makeup of the jail population. The comparative approach provides some direction for policy development and further research. 6 tables, 34 references. (Author abstract)