The National Institute of Corrections (NIC) awarded a grant to ILJ staff to systematically examine state efforts to bring about local compliance with state jail standards. The purpose of the project was to draw from the experiences of states with automated systems to provide more effective assistance to those states in the process of developing similar procedures. The study design involved a content analysis of standards, creation of a socio-economic database, and extensive on-site work with face-to-face interviews at state offices in four states and in more than 30 local jails. The focus of the inquiry was on whether the relations between the state and local governments encouraged or inhibited the use of standards and inspection processes to induce change. A strategic planning approach was developed to explain variations in the effectiveness of different processes.