A total of 81,790 inmate disciplinary offenses were punished in 1990; 77,507 occurred in male institutions and 4,283 in female institutions. Female inmates are much more likely to be disciplined than men. On average, 1.8 offenses per inmate were punished in the male inmate population in 1990, and 2.7 offenses were punished per inmate in the female inmate population. The most frequent category of offense was "disobedience or disrespect," which includes abusive language. This type of offense accounted for approximately half of all offenses in both men's and women's prisons in 1990. A higher proportion of female prisoners' offenses involve violence than those committed by male inmates. In 1990, 21 offenses per 100 inmates in male prisons and remand centers and 34 per 100 in female prisons were in the category of "violence." In 1990, the average number of punishments per offense at male institutions was 1.6, compared with 1.5 at female institutions. Punishments may be immediate or suspended. They include confinement to cell, forfeiture of privileges, stoppage or reduction of earnings, cautions, exclusion from work, forfeiture of remission, removal from activities, removal from wing or living unit, and extra work. 2 tables and 1 reference