At the most fundamental level of analysis, the motives and goals of prison violence are characterized either as instrumental or expressive. Three of the most significant sources of prison disorder include the violent inmate, the social climate of violence, and overcrowding. The article describes the circumstances surrounding, and some of the legal issues emanating from, the 1971 riot at the Attica State prison in New York and the New Mexico State prison riot in 1980. Some specific types of violence occurring in prisons include inmate-inmate violence, sexual assault, and inmate-staff violence. Strategies to reduce prison violence can range from staff training and policies of institutional control, to the introduction of ombudsmen and formal grievance and dispute resolution procedures, and measures to neutralize the influence of prison gangs. 52 references