The basic principles of enlightened jail management and are (1) conformance to current jail facility and operations standards; (2) professional staffing, starting with the jail manager; (3) round-the-clock screening and release alternatives; (4) adequate management information, including prisoner accounting; and (5) good coordination with the courts and other criminal justice agencies, as well as good public relations that includes the use of volunteers. Judges have a moral, if not a legal duty, to inspect jail conditions regularly. A jail policy or advisory board should be established to define jail policies. It is logical for a local judge to head this board. The Washington model for jail reform consists of (1) basic legislation (City and County Jails Act), (2) standards for facilities and staffs, (3) fixed definitions for jail capacity and crowding, (4) accountability reporting (population accounting form), (5) training and education, and (6) inspections and followup. Since the adoption of this strategy, Washington State has had no major new jail lawsuits filed against cities or counties (for 1982 and 1983); the only ongoing cases were settled in a manner consistent with State Jail Commission standards. Seven footnotes are included.