THIS SERIES ON ALTERNATIVES TO JAIL WAS WRITTEN FOR LOCAL OFFICIALS SEEKING HELP IN FORMULATING POLICIES TO REDUCE OR CONTAIN JAIL POPULATIONS THROUGH THE USE OF VIABLE ALTERNATIVES. THE STUDY SOUGHT TO IDENTIFY PROMISING ALTERNATIVES TO PRE- AND POST-TRIAL DETENTION IN USE IN THE UNITED STATES AND TO DEVELOP GUIDELINES ON SELECTING, INITIATING, OPERATING, AND ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF THE VARIOUS ALTERNATIVES IDENTIFIED. MATERIALS FOR THESE STUDIES WERE GATHERED THROUGH A LITERATURE REVIEW, A NATIONAL CENSUS OF SELECTED ALTERNATIVE PROGRAMS, DATA COLLECTED FROM PROGRAMS, AND SITE VISITS TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCIES. THIS VOLUME REVIEWS ISSUES AND PRESENTS INFORMATION THAT RELATE TO PRETRIAL RELEASE, DIVERSION, AND POST-TRIAL ALTERNATIVES TO TRADITIONAL JAIL SENTENCES. THE FIRST PART OF THIS VOLUME IS SPECIALLY DESIGNED FOR PERSONS CONCERNED WITH JAIL ADMINISTRATION. IT REVIEWS SOME STRATEGIES AVAILABLE TO THE JAILER TRYING TO CONTAIN HIS POPULATION AND PRESENTS A SYSTEM FOR POPULATION ANALYSIS TO SUPPORT SUCH EFFORTS. THE SYSTEM IS ADAPTABLE FOR USE IN BUDGET DEVELOPMENT AND CONTROL AND LONGER RANGE PLANNING. IT CAN ALSO BE USED TO MONITOR THE USE AND SELECTED OUTCOMES OF ALTERNATIVES TO JAIL. THE VOLUME THEN DISCUSSES LINE LEVEL PERSONNEL REQUIREMENTS FOR ALTERNATIVE PROGRAMS, PRESENTING THE RESULTS OF A SIMPLIFIED TASK ANALYSIS. COST DATA FOR BOTH JAILING AND ITS ALTERNATIVES ARE REVIEWED, AND COMPARATIVE FIGURES ARE PRESENTED. THE FINAL SECTION IS AN ESSAY ON THE VIABILITY OF ALTERNATIVE PROGRAMS WHICH POINTS UP SOME FUNDAMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE PLANNING. FOR OTHER VOLUMES IN THE SERIES, SEE NCJ-42223, 42224, 42240, AND 42241.