A DETAILED ACCOUNT IS PRESENTED OF THE INVESTIGATIVE WORK THAT PRECEDED ESTABLISHMENT OF THE PROGRAM, INCLUDING: AN ASSESSMENT OF INMATE EDUCATION NATIONWIDE; INTERVIEWS WITH MARIN COUNTY OFFICIALS AND EDUCATORS; A SURVEY OF THE EDUCATIONAL NEEDS OF MARIN COUNTY JAIL INMATES; AND VISITS TO NEARBY PRISONS TO OBSERVE THEIR EDUCATIONAL AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING PROGRAMS. PROGRAM ESTABLISHMENT PHASES (I.E., SUBMITTING PROPOSALS, OBTAINING NEEDED LEGISLATION AND FUNDING, EMPLOYING AND ORIENTING A TEACHER, DESIGNING A CURRICULUM) ARE DOCUMENTED. PILOT OPERATION OF THE PROGRAM IS EVALUATED, AS IS THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE PROGRAM MET ITS GOALS IN THE DEVELOPMENTAL AND EARLY OPERATIONAL PHASES. IN THE 3-MONTH TRIAL PERIOD, THE PROGRAM ENROLLED 50 INMATES, 17 OF WHOM WERE WORKING TOWARD GRADUATE EQUIVALENT DEGREE (GED) CERTIFICATES AND 4 OF WHOM COMPLETED THE GED REQUIREMENTS. AFTER ITS TRIAL PERIOD, THE PROGRAM WAS APPROVED FOR THE 1974-75 YEAR. A BIBLIOGRAPHY AND SUPPORTING DATA AND DOCUMENTATION ARE PROVIDED. (LKM)