A CLEAR STATEMENT OF OBJECTIVES AND STRATEGIES, KNOWLEDGE OF SYSTEMIC EFFECTS, DEFINITIONS OF COMPLIANCE, AND AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE COSTS ATTENDANT TO DECISIONMAKING ARE DISCUSSED AS NECESSARY PRECURSORS TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF REFORM. THE SETTING OF REFORM STANDARDS AND A COST ANALYSIS FOR IMPLEMENTATION ARE EXAMINED THROUGH THE WASHINGTON STATE EXPERIENCE WITH JAIL REFORM. A CHAPTER IS DEVOTED TO A DISCUSSION OF STATE AND LOCAL COST SHARING IN JAIL OPERATIONS. THE AUTHORS MAINTAIN THAT RESEARCH ON THE SOCIAL COST OF JAILS, RELATIVE RESOURCE ALLOCATIONS INTERNAL TO THEIR OPERATION, OPTIMUM SCALE OF PLANT, AND SUBSIDY EFFECTS WILL PROVIDE THE KIND OF ECONOMIC INFORMATION RELEVANT TO PUBLIC OFFICIALS FACED WITH DIFFICULT POLICY CHOICES....RCB