Jails throughout the United States are severely overcrowded, with the worst overcrowding taking place in urban jails. Some Federal courts have put limits on the population allowed in individual jails. The majority of those in jail are pretrial detainees who cannot raise bail. The courts will declare most of them not guilty. Pretrial screening programs provide judges with accurate information to aid release decisions and thereby keep the jail population low. The programs typically consist of interviewing the defendant, rating the defendant on a scale indicating likelihood of rearrest or nonappearance, and monitoring the individual on release. A successful program in Kentucky has resulted in the release of almost half of pretrial detainees, with a nonappearance rate of less than 5 percent. A Milwaukee program provides support services for those with drug, alcohol, or mental health problems. The vast majority of defendants return for all court appearances and remain arrest-free. Finally, the actual experience of many cities supports the use of pretrial screening to reduce the severe strain on U.S. jail systems. Ten footnotes are supplied.