As of September 1, 1988, 689 inmate deaths due to AIDS have been reported in State correctional facilities. Demographic data were obtained on the 1988 inmate population, including sex, residence, place of birth, crime conviction category, marital status, age, and time in the correctional system. Additionally, factors such as intravenous drug abuse history, sexual orientation, period of final hospitalization, and opportunistic infection at time of death were evaluated. AIDS was found to be a predominantly male disease, and 95 percent of inmates had a history of intravenous drug abuse. Only 11 percent admitted to a homosexual, bisexual, or transsexual orientation. Hispanics and blacks comprised 44 and 45 percent of AIDS cases, respectively, and Hispanics were disproportionately represented in death cases. Most inmates lived in the New York City metropolitan area prior to incarceration, 42 percent were married, and the average age of males at death was 34 years. Of inmates who died, 59 percent had been in the correctional system 1-18 months, 23 percent 19-36 months, and 12 percent 37-54 months. The final period of hospitalization ranged from 1 day to 8 months. The most prevalent opportunistic infection at time of death was pneumocystis carinii pneumonia. The issue of AIDS transmission in correctional facilities is raised in relation to inmates continuously incarcerated for 6-8 years. 25 references, 5 tables, 15 figures.