The guiding framework for the conference was based on four major assumptions: that mentally ill persons in jail are a community problem, that jails are part of the community, that mentally ill misdemeanants should generally be diverted into appropriate mental health treatment services, and that mentally ill felons have a right to essential mental health evaluation and treatment services. Following an introductory chapter, the monograph addresses issues related to the police handling of mentally ill offenders in terms of style, strategy, and implications. The three subsequent chapters cover issues in admitting and booking mentally ill offenders in local jails, managing jail-based mental health services, and linking mentally ill offenders to community mental health services. The final chapter contains policy recommendations vis-a-vis these four areas. Chapter references and 3 appendixes