In Los Angeles County, as a result of decisions stemming from two plenary class action suits filed in 1972 and one in 1975, a reasonable and limited order was established which balanced effective jail practices with acceptable inmate conditions. However, by the 1980's, prison overcrowding made compliance with the order difficult, and the cost of building enough new beds to house the inmate overflow was prohibitive. In 1985, all elements of the county criminal justice system participated in an effort to manage the jail system in order to maximize resources, protect the public, and guarantee inmates' rights. The parties agree to work to optimize the use of prison facilities, decrease the number of inmates admitted or increase the number of inmates released, and shorten the time required for pretrial detention in the most appropriate way consistent with their competing interests. This agreement was approved in Federal court as a Memorandum of Understanding in 1986. 4 notes