The survey, conducted every 5 to 7 years, compares the 1986 demographic characteristics and offense distribution of inmates with those in the 1979 survey. The study analyzed criminal histories of State prison inmates, personal backgrounds, use of drugs and alcohol, and the victims of violent offenders. Inmates were categorized into six groups on the basis of self-reported criminal histories. Drug use history was based on inmates' responses to a detailed set of questions about 10 drugs: heroin or methadone; amphetamines and barbiturates, alone or in combination; methaqualone (Quaaludes); cocaine; LSD; PCP; marijuana and hashish. Alcohol use was examined in a separate questionnaire. A stratified two-stage sample was used with probabilities proportionate to the size of the institution. Using predetermined sampling procedures, 15,000 inmates at 275 facilities were selected and 13,711 interviews were conducted. Specifically, the survey compared sex, race, ethnicity, age, marital status, education, military service, prearrest employment and income, and current offense by sex. The 1986 survey examined prior sentences of inmates, characteristics of inmates by criminal history, current offenses of inmates incarcerated for violent crimes and nonviolent crimes, and prior sentences of recidivists. Findings indicate that the inmate population increased from an estimated 274,563 in 1979 to 450,416 in 1986, while the composition remained stable. Results from the 1986 survey indicate that more than 80 percent were recidivists. Tabular data.