There are five jails in Multnomah County with over 30 separate housing areas that range from administrative segregation to a minimum-security restitution center. The maximum-security facility, the Multnomah County Detention Center (MCDC), is a direct supervision facility with both 16-person and 32-person modules and a special housing floor. The special housing floor consists of a 10-person medical unit, a 10-person psychiatric unit, two 8-person administrative segregation units, and a 10- person disciplinary unit. In addition to the special management space at the MCDC, there is also additional space at a second facility, the Inverness Jail. This is the county's largest jail (559 beds). Having special management units at the Inverness Jail reduces the need to transfer inmates between facilities. Approximately 10 percent of the total jail beds are designated for special management inmates. Separate sections of this article describe the jail facilities and services for the mentally ill, the physically ill, and the disabled inmate. The author advises that there are three important elements to maintaining a system that addresses the needs of the special management inmates: dedicated staff who understand the importance of identifying and dealing with the special inmates; a classification system that is staffed and managed so that it has the authority and ability to control inmate movement and placement; and physical facilities that allow for inmates to be separated from the general population, but still allow them to participate in programs and services. 6 notes