AIDS-related illnesses accounted for 65.6 percent of the total 1,477 inmate deaths that occurred between 1986 and 1991. Deaths due to other causes included homicide (3.1 percent), suicide (1.8 percent), accidents (1.6 percent), and other natural causes (27.9 percent). The largest number of deaths occurred among inmates aged 40 years and older. Among Hispanic inmates, 78.4 percent of all deaths were due to AIDS, while 38.6 percent of deaths among white inmates and 61.8 percent of deaths among black inmates were related to AIDS. Women decedents accounted for 2.8 percent of inmate deaths, although women comprised only 4.6 percent of the offender population. Inmates from New York City experienced the highest number of deaths; persons committed from New York City comprised approximately 70 percent of the under custody population but 85 percent of inmate deaths. Hispanic inmates aged 40 years and older experienced the highest mortality rate from all causes of death. Inmates that died from other natural causes had served longer prison sentences than inmates who had died from homicide, suicide, or AIDS-related illnesses. Appendixes contain additional data on inmate deaths and causes. Tables and figures