Survey data collection concentrated on areas of nursing, pharmacy, and health services administration. The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office (Phoenix, Arizona) served as the control. Medical care within the corrections systems was managed appropriately by health departments or private health contractors. There was no benefit to sheriff-operated health care, but well-managed health care was experienced within the sheriff's purview. The majority of correctional health systems were managed by a comprehensive network of health care channels which allow for a leveled structure of monitoring and review. The availability of on-site charge nurses during off-hours enhanced nursing management. An ideal correctional pharmacy would have unit dose drug distribution, computerization, a strong pharmacy and therapeutics committee, and a prime vendor contract for purchasing pharmaceuticals.