THE JAIL SCHOOL EXISTS WITHIN A BROADER MILIEU OF ORGANIZATIONS WHICH INFLUENCE IT GREATLY - THE COURTS, THE CITY AND COUNTY IN WHICH THE SCHOOL IS LOCATED, AND THE JAIL ORGANIZATION ITSELF. FIRST, THE RELATIVE PRIORITY OF CUSTODY VERSUS TREATMENT IS EXAMINED. THEN, PROCESSES RELATED TO THE PRIORITY OF CUSTODIAL CONCERNS (INSTITUTIONAL ROUTINES, DISCIPLINE, AND INSTITUTIONAL RESOURCES) ARE DESCRIBED AS UNDERMINING THE JAIL SCHOOL PROGRAM. WAYS IN WHICH SCHOOL PERSONNEL ATTEMPT TO COPE WITH PROBLEMS RESULTING FROM THE CUSTODY-SECURITY EMPHASIS ARE EXPLAINED. THE AUTHOR CONCLUDES WITH A DISCUSSION OF THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE STUDY AND STRESSES THE NEED FOR INCREASED SOCIOLOGICAL RESEARCH IN THE JAIL. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)...KAP