Jails must assess the overall health and well-being of individuals in their care upon admission. People who are incarcerated in jails often have complex medical and behavioral health needs, and some of these needs may be urgent or emergent. Comprehensive and universal screening and assessment can help identify these needs so they can be addressed promptly to improve an individual’s health outcomes, reduce the risk of self-harm or suicide and inform decisions about housing placement and relevant programming opportunities. Thorough, careful screening and assessment policies and practices also have a positive impact on the overall safety and security within the jail.