Results revealed that the nature of the jail population has been changing and that males and females bring similar problems to jail. The factors recommended by the NCCD intake assessment instrument could and should be used for female inmates. Findings also indicated that a substantially greater portion of jailed women than men may be under considerable strain because of the disruption in their children's lives as well as their own. Intake assessment should also include an effort to identify inmates with special problems and needs and that women are more likely to have medical problems, mental illness, and drug abuse problems. The 1989 data revealed a decrease in regular heroin use and a sharp increase in the regular use of cocaine. The only special needs area in which the proportion of men was greater than the proportion of women was alcoholism. Findings also indicate that jailed men are more likely to have access to activities outside their housing unit. Table and 4 references