The study examined the inmate records of a remand prison and a longer term dispersal prison. Between 1978 and 1986 there were 49 incidents of food refusal by 39 inmates. Thirty-two inmates (82 percent) refused food once, 5 inmates refused food twice, 1 inmate on three occasions, and 1 inmate on four occasions. Fourteen inmates among the 25 cases in which a diagnosis was recorded were mentally disordered. Study results suggest that the overall prevalence of food refusal in prison is low and that food refusal occurs typically in the remand prison rather than the dispersal prison. The majority of those who refused food had a history of previous convictions, but there was no apparent relationship between type of offense and food refusal. Most inmates who refused food did so as a protest regarding a personal grievance against prison authorities. The high level of mental disorder among inmates who refuse food indicates the importance of maintaining psychiatric oversight of such inmates. Experience indicates they respond well to both observation and counseling within the prison hospital setting. Factors that indicate serious mental illness are refusal of food and fluids and the inmate's inability to provide a rational reason for his behavior. 1 figure and 6 references