Three definitions are used to classify history of violence: (1) inmates whose current conviction is for offenses involving homicide, rape, assault, kidnaping, and robbery; (2) inmates whose current conviction includes the offenses listed in the first definition plus crimes involving arson, firearms, explosives, extortion, selected national defense violations, sex offenses, air piracy, and threats against the President; and (3) inmates currently committed for offenses included in the second definition and other background indicators of violence. Overall, 23 percent of Bureau of Prisons inmates were incarcerated in 1988 for Definition 1 offenses. Under this definition, 23 percent of all males and 12 percent of all females had a history of violence. Under Definition 2, the percentage of Federal prisoners classified as violent increased to 29 percent; 30 percent of all males and 14 percent of all females had a history of violence. Using Definition 3, 46 percent of Federal inmates were considered violent, with 48 percent of all males and 24 percent of all females having a history of violence. 2 tables