THIS TEXT DEALS WITH A SENSITIVE AREA OF CONCERN IN THE SYSTEM OF TRIAL AND IMPRISONMENT IN BRITAIN. THE AUTHORS DISCUSS THE FUNCTION OF REMANDS IN CUSTODY WITHIN A CHANGING PRISON SYSTEM, ANALYZE RECENT BRITISH TRENDS IN THE NUMBERS OF PERSONS RECEIVED INTO THE PRISON SYSTEM ON REMAND, AND ASSESS THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO THE PRISON POPULATION. IT WAS FOUND THAT DESPITE THE FACT THAT MANY OF THE PERSONS AWAITING TRIAL OR SENTENCING WILL NOT SUBSEQUENTLY BE SENT TO PRISON BY THE COURTS, THE CONDITIONS THEY EXPERIENCE ARE IN MANY RESPECTS NO BETTER AND IN SOME RESPECTS WORSE THAN THOSE FOR PERSONS SENTENCED TO IMPRISONMENT. MOREOVER, SPECIAL PROVISIONS INTENDED FOR THESE PERSONS ARE FOUND TO HAVE LITTLE IMPACT ON THE QUALITY OF PRISON TREATMENT THEY EXPERIENCE. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)...DMC