A REPORT BY THE TASK FORCE ON COUNTY JAILS INCLUDES RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF CITIZEN TASK FORCES IN AS MANY COUNTIES AS POSSIBLE. THEIR GOALS WOULD BE TO INFLUENCE IMPROVEMENTS IN THE COUNTY JAIL AND TO MONITOR THOSE CHANGES. BASED ON DATA COLLECTED FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, THE CORRECTIONAL MASTER PLAN POLICY COUNCIL, AND THE DEPARTMENT OF THE PUBLIC ADVOCATE, THIS STUDY DOCUMENTS THE GENERAL SUBSTANDARD CONDITIONS IN COUNTY PENAL INSTITUTIONS. THE POOR CONDITIONS CITED INCLUDE OVERCROWDING, INSUFFICIENT MEDICAL SERVICES, LACK OF PRISONER EXERCISE, INADEQUATE SEPARATION OF INNOCENT AND CONVICTED INMATES, LACK OF ACCESSIBLE DRINKING WATER, AND HOMOSEXUAL ASSAULT. IN ADDITION, CONDITIONS VARIED MARKEDLY FROM INSTITUTION TO INSTITUTION. JAIL CONDITIONS IN OTHER STATES ARE EXAMINED BRIEFLY IN AN EFFORT TO FIND STANDARDS FOR REFORM. SOME OF THE STATES SURVEYED ARE WASHINGTON, ARIZONA, NEBRASKA AND SEVERAL SOUTHERN AND EASTERN STATES. THE REPORT MAKES A SERIES OF RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE COUNTY JAILS: (1) THERE SHOULD BE GREATER USE OF DIVERSION PROGRAMS; (2) COUNTY BOARDS OF FREEHOLDERS SHOULD ADMINISTER THE JAILS; (3) COUNTIES WHICH HAVE SMALL PRISON POPULATIONS AND POOR CONDITIONS SHOULD DEVELOP SPECIAL PROGRAMS AND SERVICES IN CONJUNCTION WITH EXISTING COMMUNITY RESOURCES; (4) THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY SHOULD ESTABLISH ENFORCEABLE JAIL STANDARDS, SUCH AS THOSE SUMMARIZED IN DETAIL IN THE REPORT, AND (5) THE STATE SHOULD SPONSOR A JAIL SUBSIDY PROGRAM DESIGNED TO BRING THE JAILS UP TO THE STANDARDS OR TO GIVE COUNTIES AN INCENTIVE TO MEET THE STANDARDS. FOOTNOTES, A LIST OF INTERVIEWS, AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY ARE INCLUDED. THE APPENDIX INCLUDES DATES OF NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS JAIL REPORTS, SAMPLE REPORT SHEETS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS. (RFC)