Jails are responsible for detaining accused persons prior to trial and, in some cases, for short sentence confinement and rehabilitation. Problems experienced by jails include personnel issues, modernization, overcrowding, and funding. The history and development of jails indicate that jails are becoming more recognized as a vital component of the criminal justice system and that contemporary issues in jail administration focus on privatization and regionalization. In deciding whether to privatize or regionalize, jails must consider the private sector's experience in corrections, legal liability issues associated with private versus public sector jail administration, costs and benefits, jail policies and procedures, Federal and State guidelines, accountability, contractual safeguards, building and grounds security, staffing and personnel, and inmate control and supervision. Planning for jail privatization or regionalization is described, an overview of private adult correctional facilities is presented, and the impact of privatization and regionalization is assessed. A survey of jail regionalization is reported, along with jail inmate cost data and information on jail inspection. Information is also provided on public safety services and occupations, mutual assistance agreements, extradition, and sheriff responsibilities. References and tables