THE JAIL PSYCHIATRIC CLINIC WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1972 TO PROVIDE IN-JAIL, CRISIS-ORIENTED, PSYCHIATRIC TREATMENT AND REFERRAL SERVICES FOR PSYCHOTIC, SUICIDAL OR AGITATED INMATES OF THE KING COUNTY JAIL AND SEATTLE CITY JAIL IN SEATTLE, WASH. NO FORMAL ATTEMPTS WERE MADE TO SCREEN INMATES FOR PSYCHIATRIC ILLNESS; WRITTEN REFERRALS FROM CUSTODY OFFICERS, SOCIAL SERVICE PERSONNEL AND MEDICAL STAFF WERE SCREENED BY THE ATTENDING PSYCHIATRIST OR THE PSYCHIATRIC RESIDENT. ONLY PATIENTS JUDGED LIKELY TO BE PSYCHOTIC, SUICIDAL OR AGITATED WERE EXAMINED. A STANDARDIZED INTERVIEW FORMAT (WHICH ELICITS DATA ON IN-JAIL BEHAVIOR, DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS, DRUG, PSYCHIATRIC AND CRIMINAL HISTORIES)AND A STANDARD DIAGNOSTIC BATTERY WERE ADMINISTERED BY THE PSYCHIATRIST TO EACH PATIENT EXAMINED. THE SAMPLE CONTAINED 524 INMATES. THE MEAN AGES WERE TESTED FOR SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES USING A TWO-WAY ANALYSIS OF VARIANCE. CHI-SQUARE TESTS WERE USED FOR OTHER VARIABLES. TWO PSYCHIATRIC SYNDROME AND INTERVENTION PROFILES EMERGED. THE MOST COMMONLY SEEN WERE MISDEMEANANTS WITH PSYCHOTIC ILLNESSES, WHO REQUIRED LONG TERM ANTI-PSYCHOTIC MEDICATIONS AND CLOSE CONTACT WITH COMMUNITY TREATMENT RESOURCES. SITUATIONAL REACTIONS WITH SUICIDAL IDEATION IN PATIENTS WITH CHARACTER DISORDER DIAGNOSES WERE SEEN LESS FREQUENTLY. THEY WERE TREATED WITH SHORT TERM ANTI-ANXIETY MEDICATIONS AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANIPULATION. SEVENTEEN REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED).