The present study was conducted with inmates incarcerated at the Mississippi State Penitentiary. A voice screening for quality, pitch, rate, loudness, and resonance was given to 246 inmates. Medical, acoustic, and perceptual voice examinations were then performed on inmates who twice failed the voice screening. The study found that the prevalence of voice disorders among inmates was appreciably higher than that for the general population. In most cases, the disordered voice characteristics were typical of vocal abuse pathologies, such as edema, inflammation, nodules, or polyps. A high percentage of the inmates originally screened reported histories of allergies and frequent upper respiratory infections. A history of poor medical care was also evident. Exposure to noise was also a factor, resulting in increased vocal strain. The most remarkable characteristic among the voice disordered subjects was the prevalence of drug and alcohol abuse; a history of such abuse was documented in all of these individuals. Heavy cigarette smoking also contributed to vocal disorder, and aggressive personalities also appeared to play a role. Although no formal personality testing was done, nearly 97 percent of those inmates with vocal abuse disorder had committed violent crimes. 2 tables, 17 references.