Females amounted to 11 percent of the jail population in 1996. As a small but increasing inmate subgroup, female inmates experience several specific problems, some of which relate directly to the jail's size and limited resources. The majority of jails in the United States have fewer than 50 beds; most incarcerate three to five women at any given time. The requirements for sight and sound separation of male and female inmates poses challenges to jail administrators who are trying to cope with either crowding or classification issues. The three phases of jail planning include (1) the needs assessment, (2) the pre-architectural programming, and (3) the design. Crucial issues in planning for female inmates in small jails include space allocation and housing; the need for a variety of housing classifications; privacy and supervision; visiting, program, and booking space; and co-ed facilities for some populations. Tables, figures, and footnotes