SINCE MOST OFFENDERS SPEND TIME IN JAIL AT SOME POINT IN THEIR ENCOUNTERS WITH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROCESS, THE JAIL, WITH ITS UNIQUE TIES TO THE COMMUNITY, IS CONSIDERED A NATURAL FOCUS FOR COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS AND A NEXUS TO UNITE THE VARIOUS ENTITIES WITHIN THE CORRECTIONS PROCESS ITSELF. DIVERSION FUNCTIONS, CRISIS INTERVENTION OPERATIONS, ACTING AS COURT DIAGNOSTIC CENTERS, TAPPING COMMUNITY RESOURCES FOR THE BENEFIT OF OFFENDERS, CONTRACTING FOR SERVICES FROM THE COMMUNITY, AND PERFORMING PRERELEASE FUNCTIONS FOR STATE PRISONS ARE EXAMINED AS FUNCTIONS THAT COULD BE PERFORMED BY JAILS. IT IS NOTED THAT COURT DIVERSION MOST OFTEN TAKES PLACE DURING NORMAL BUSINESS HOURS; THUS, THE ARRESTEE PROBABLY SPENDS AT LEAST ONE NIGHT IN JAIL. IT IS PROPOSED THAT JAILS, WHICH FUNCTION AROUND-THE-CLOCK, BE AUTHORIZED TO ADMINISTER A SUITABILITY SCALE AND BE GIVEN THE POWER TO RELEASE ON PERSONAL RECOGNIZANCE. CRISIS INTERVENTION OPERATIONS OF THE JAIL WOULD INVOLVE INVESTIGATING AND INITIATING REMEDIES FOR CRISES IN FAMILY AND JOB SITUATIONS THAT OCCUR BECAUSE OF A PERSON'S DETAINMENT IN THE JAIL. IT IS ALSO RECOMMENDED THAT JAILS, WORKING IN CONJUNCTION WITH LOCAL PROBATION AGENCIES, SERVE AS DIAGNOSTIC CENTERS FOR THE COURTS. IT IS NOTED THAT JAIL STAFF OBSERVE A DETAINEE 24 HOURS PER DAY, THUS BEING IN A POSITION TO PROVIDE VALUABLE INSIGHTS INTO THE BEHAVIOR AND ATTITUDES OF THE OFFENDER. STATE EMPLOYMENT SERVICES, EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND PROGRAMS, CASEWORK SERVICES, AND COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES ARE MENTIONED AS SOME OF THE COMMUNITY RESOURCES THE JAIL MANAGEMENT COULD TAP FOR USE BY INMATES. IT IS ADVISED THAT THE JAIL MANAGEMENT COULD CONTRACT WITH COMMUNITY SERVICES SUCH AS FOOD SERVICES, LAUNDRY, AN INMATE CANTEEN, AND VARIOUS INSTITUTIONAL HOUSEKEEPING SERVICES, WITH THE POSSIBLE PROVISION IN THE CONTRACT THAT INMATES BE INCORPORATED IN THE OPERATION OF THE SERVICES. THE CONTRACTING OF STATE PRISONS WITH LOCAL JAILS TO HOUSE STATE PRISONERS JUST PRIOR TO THEIR RELEASE FOR THE PURPOSE OF INVOLVING THEM IN WORK RELEASE PROGRAMS AND OTHER PRERELEASE SERVICES IS RECOMMENDED AS A LOGICAL AND FEASIBLE USE OF THE JAIL. PROVISIONS FOR GUIDING POSITIVE INTERACTION BETWEEN STAFF MEMBERS AND THE STAFF AND INMATES ARE DISCUSSED AS IMPORTANT FEATURES OF EFFECTIVE INVOLVEMENT OF THE JAIL IN REHABILITATION. (RCB) (RCB)