The course presented is designed for presentation within university curricula. The author began teaching such a course on jails during the summer term of 1988 and has continued offering it every subsequent summer. Topics addressed are the purposes of jails, a historical evolution of the jail, description of the contemporary jail, examination of contemporary jail problems, discussion of jail management issues, and an exploration of jails and the law. By examining these topics, the student can receive a comprehensive understanding of the jail and how it fits into the local criminal justice system, as well as the role of the jail in the community. Through such a course, which can be developed through collaboration between jail administrators and university professors, the community can become more informed about jails and how they serve the community. For the academic, jail contacts can extend professional connections within the criminal justice field and provide an opportunity for placing students in field work and occupations both during and after their college years. For the sheriff and the jail administrator, such a course provides the platform for discussing the role of the jail in the community, the importance of the interface between the community and the jail, and the problems faced by jail personnel. 8 references