Following an overview of State efforts to improve local jails and issues concerning standards implementation, this report outlines the basic research design, including sample selection and data collection methods. Variations in jail conditions found in each of the States visited are discussed. The content of the standards, the organization of the inspection agencies, and the powers assigned to these offices are then described for each State, as are their different implementation strategies. Topics addressed include how officials interpret the standards program's goals, their perceptions of local officials, resources available to implement change, and the role of inspectors. The report shifts from the State to the local arena and explores attitudes of sheriffs, jail administrators, and county commissioners and executives toward jail problems and standards. The effects of the county decisionmaking structure and environmental constraints on State efforts to change jail conditions are also assessed. The study concludes that when the goal of a standards/inspection program is to improve jails the effective use of strategies to implement standards is the most important consideration. The standards' content, and agency's organizational pattern, and the mechanics of the inspection process are of much less significance. To be effective, State officials must have the resources and skills to adapt their actions to diverse local conditions. Guidelines for State decisionmakers identify four types of strategies -- facilitative, educative, persuasive, and power -- along with corresponding program objectives, personnel needs, and probable reactions of local officials. Requirements for an effective inspection process are also detailed. The appendixes contain comprehensive descriptions of jail standards and inspection programs in South Carolina, Florida, and Illinois. A bibliography of 29 references is provided.