Seventy-four inmates who had engaged in self-harm were interviewed within 3 days of the incidents. Instruments measured the degree of suicidal intent (Suicide Intent Scale), the degree to which the incident posed a risk to life (assessed by medical staff), and the principal motive for self-harming (open-ended question). The data did not support the notion that manipulators and suicide attempters are mutually exclusive groups. Only 6 of the 18 participants who reported manipulative motives displayed low suicidal intent, and 3 of the 18 enacted self-harm that posed at least a moderate risk to life. The data also show that a motive of escape coincided with at least moderate suicidal intent and was more likely to involve highly lethal self-harm behavior than were other motives. Of the 24 participants who reported escape as their motive, 16 made some reference to death in their response. It appears, therefore, that clinicians have some justification for diagnosing genuine suicidal intent in prisoners who, when asked about the function of their act of self-harm, report escapist motives and having wanted to die; however, clinicians do not appear to be justified in assuming an absence of suicidal intent for all prisoners who report a motive of manipulation or attention-seeking. 8 tables and 22 references