A federal judge expressed outrage yesterday at overheated conditions inside the Baltimore women's detention center and gave lawyers representing the state and jail detainees until tomorrow to come up with a medical plan for evaluating and treating the women.

"This situation cannot be allowed to continue," Judge J. Frederick Motz of U.S. District Court in Baltimore said of conditions in the jail that have caused temperatures to rise to more than 110 degrees. "A civilized society cannot tolerate what has happened."

Motz referred to reports that heat has become oppressive. On any given day, the temperature inside can be 10 or 15 degrees higher than outside.

Maryland Assistant Attorney General Maureen M. Dove and Joseph H. Young, attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union and jail detainees, said yesterday that they believed an agreement could be worked out that addresses medical treatment of detainees. About 580 women are held at the downtown facility, where most live in close quarters in dormitory rooms with rows of bunk beds.

"Our doctors will meet today," Dove said.

Doctors and lawyers on both sides met after yesterday's morning court session.

"We are hopeful that a meeting of the minds will preclude any litigation," said LaMont W. Flanagan, state commissioner for pretrial detention and services, which oversees the center.

Flanagan and other state officials have scrambled to supply more air conditioning during a hot summer that has seen city District Judge Charlotte M. Cooksey criticize the jail conditions as "sickening."

As of Saturday, state officials said, the detention center will have 160 living units with air conditioning. Screenings show that at least 112 women have medical conditions, such as pregnancy or respiratory ailments, that could be affected by high temperatures.