MINIMUM JAIL STANDARDS WERE ESTABLISHED BY THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE IN 1957. BECAUSE NO ONE WAS GIVEN DIRECT AUTHORITY TO ENFORCE THESE STANDARDS EFFECTIVELY, AN ESTIMATED 40 PERCENT OF ALL JAILS IN THE STATE ARE UNDER SOME TYPE OF LITIGATION. A COMMISSION ON JAIL STANDARDS SINCE HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED TO DRAFT REASONABLE STANDARDS AND TO INSURE THAT THEY ARE ENFORCED. THREE TERMS IN THE STANDARDS FORMULATED BY THE COMMISSION ARE OF PARTICULAR IMPORTANCE. THEY CONCERN MANDATORY, RECOMMENDED, AND PERMISSIVE CONCEPTS USED IN THE TERMINOLOGY OF THE STANDARDS. COST IS VIEWED AS A MAJOR PROBLEM IN ENFORCING THE STANDARDS IN A WAY THAT WILL ASSURE THE HEALTH OF INMATES, SANITATION, SAFETY, AND SECURITY. COST IS ALSO AN IMPORTANT FACTOR TO CONSIDER IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF JAILS. THE PROBLEM OF SUPERVISION IN SMALL JAILS IS EXAMINED. (DEP)