IN INDIA PERSONS WHO ARE DETAINED IN JAIL WHILE AWAITING TRIAL ON CRIMINAL CHARGES ARE REFERRED TO AS UNDER-TRIAL PRISONERS. THESE PERSONS ARE HOUSED TOGETHER WITH AND TREATED MUCH THE SAME AS CONVICTED OFFENDERS, ALTHOUGH A LARGE PERCENTAGE (ABOUT 40 PERCENT) ARE EVENTUALLY ACQUITTED, DISCHARGED, OR OTHERWISE RELEASED. IT CAN TAKE MONTHS OR EVEN YEARS FOR A DETAINEE'S CASE TO COME TO TRIAL. THE PLIGHT OF THE ACCUSED IN INDIA HAS LONG BEEN A MATTER OF CONCERN; THE INDIAN JAILS COMMITTEE OF 1919-1920 TOOK THE PROBLEM INTO CONSIDERATION. THE FOLLOWING MEASURES TO IMPROVE PRETRIAL DETENTION PRACTICES AND OTHER ASPECTS OF THE TREATMENT OF ACCUSED PERSONS IN INDIA SHOULD BE CONSIDERED: (1) FEWER, MORE CAREFULLY CONSIDERED ARRESTS BY POLICE; (2) A SYSTEM FOR COMPENSATING INNOCENT DETAINEES FOR THEIR LOSS OF TIME AND LIBERTY; (3) GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE FOR THE DEPENDENTS OF DETAINEES; (4) SPEEDIER TRIALS; (5) BETTER CONDITIONS IN THE JAILS; AND (6) MORE LIBERAL USE OF THE SUMMONS AND OF BAIL. IMPROVING THE LOT OF UNDER-TRIAL PRISONERS WOULD BE A MAJOR STEP TOWARD PENAL REFORM IN INDIA. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS INCLUDED. (LKM) (LKM)