A 1972 AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION (AMA) SURVEY OF 1,159 JAILS ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO DETERMINE THE ADEQUACY OF THEIR MEDICAL SERVICES REVEALED THE GENERAL INADEQUACY OF SUCH SERVICES. THESE SURVEY RESULTS LED THE AMA TO DEVELOP STANDARDS FOR HEALTH CARE OF JAIL INMATES, AND BASED ON THESE STANDARDS, AN ACCREDITATION PROGRAM WAS ESTABLISHED FOR THE NATION'S JAILS. A JAIL ENTERS THE ACCREDITATION PROCESS WHEN AN APPLICATION FOR ACCREDITATION IS RECEIVED FROM THE PERSON LEGALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE JAIL'S OPERATION AND THE OFFICIAL IS NOTIFIED OF HIS STATUS AS AN APPLICANT. A SELF-EVALUATION QUESTIONNAIRE IS THEN MAILED TO THE APPLICANT. SHOULD THE QUESTIONNAIRE INDICATE THAT THE JAIL IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE STANDARDS, IT BECOMES A 'CANDIDATE FOR ACCREDITATION.' IF A QUESTIONNAIRE SHOWS THAT AMA STANDARDS ARE NOT BEING MET, AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT ARE NOTED, AND THE AMA OFFERS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO THE JAIL TO IMPROVE MEDICAL SERVICES. A SECOND SELF-EVALUATION QUESTIONNAIRE IS SENT WITHIN 6 MONTHS TO DETERMINE IF THE NEEDED CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE. DURING THE PERIOD OF CANDIDACY, AN ONSITE FIELD MONITORING SURVEY IS CONDUCTED BY THE STATE MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. THE SURVEY TEAM, CONSISTING OF PHYSICIAN AND NONPHYSICIAN MEMBERS, INTERVIEWS VARIOUS LEVELS OF JAIL PERSONNEL, HEALTH-CARE PROVIDERS, AND INMATES. ALL ASPECTS OF JAIL OPERATIONS AND ADMINISTRATION RELATED TO MEDICAL CARE ARE REVIEWED. AFTER REVIEWING THE APPLICATION, THE SELF-EVALUATION QUESTIONNAIRE, ONSITE SURVEY DOCUMENTS, AND REPORTS AND COMMENTS OF THE STATE MEDICAL ASSOCIATION, THE AMA MAY GRANT OR DENY ACCREDITATION. THE APPLICANT RECEIVES A FULL REPORT REGARDING THE ACCREDITATION ACTION TAKEN. THE ACCREDITATION PROGRAM PROVIDES AN INCENTIVE FOR JAILS TO IMPROVE THEIR SERVICES, AS WELL AS PROVIDING FOR STANDARDIZATION OF QUALITY MEDICAL SERVICES FOR JAIL INMATES. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED.