THE DEPLORABLE STATUS OF HEALTH CARE IN JAILS IS PARTLY DUE TO THE FACT THAT INMATES ENTER INSTITUTIONS IN POOR HEALTH, SUFFERING FROM ALCOHOLISM, DRUG ADDICTION, MENTAL ILLNESS, AND VENEREAL DISEASE. MOREOVER, MANY JAILS LACK HEALTH CARE FACILITIES ALTOGETHER, AND WHERE HEALTH SERVICES DO EXIST, THEY ARE INADEQUATE, OFTEN ADMINISTERED NEGLIGENTLY AND ILLOGICALLY. SICK CALLS, FOR INSTANCE, HAVE BEEN CONDUCTED BY EXAMINING DOCTORS BEHIND SECURITY SCREENS. WORST OF ALL IS THE FACT THAT UNSANITARY CONDITIONS AND SUBSTANDARD NUTRITION IN THE JAILS THEMSELVES CONTRIBUTE TO HEALTH PROBLEMS OF THE INMATES. ONE OF THE REASONS FOR THIS NEGLECT IS THE TRADITIONAL 'HANDS-OFF' DOCTRINE PRACTICED BY THE COURTS. SINCE THERE IS NOTHING IN THE CONSTITUTION THAT APPLIES DIRECTLY TO THE PROTECTION OF INMATES, COURTS HAVE CHOSEN TO INTERPRET THE REALM OF PRISON ADMINISTRATION AS BEYOND THEIR JURISDICTION. THE ATTITUDE OF JAIL OFFICIALS, WHO CONSTRUE THEIR OBLIGATION AS ONE OF CONTAINMENT ONLY, HAS ALSO BEEN A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR. HEALTH PROFESSIONALS FIND WORK IN JAILS UNCHALLENGING, POORLY REWARDED, LACKING IN PRESTIGE, AND FULL OF TENSIONS THROUGH INTERACTION WITH INMATES AND CORRECTIONS OFFICERS. THUS, FEW COMPETENT HEALTH PROFESSIONALS SERVE THE JAILS. THERE ARE BASIC ETHICAL AND HUMANITARIAN REASONS FOR IMPROVING HEALTH CARE SERVICES. IN ADDITION, BETTER HEALTH OF THE INMATES WOULD IMPROVE SECURITY BY ALLEVIATING GROUNDS FOR PRISON RIOTS. FINALLY, COURTS ARE BEGINNING TO LEGALLY REQUIRE THAT THE BASICS OF GOOD HEALTH AND SANITATION BE MAINTAINED. IN THIS CONTEXT, NATIONAL STANDARDS AND STATE STATUTES HAVE RECENTLY BEEN FORMULATED, AND SOME STATE AND LOCAL PROGRAMS UNDERTAKEN. A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS PROVIDED.