The researchers randomly selected the participants through the Local Inmate Data System, with stratification by prison wing and with a sampling fraction varying between one in four and one in six. The consent rate was 72 percent. Fifty-three percent of the participants had at least 1 tattoo and that 21 percent had been tattooed while in prison. One third of those tattooed in prison had no previous tattoos. Half the prison tattoos were self-administered, using a wide variety of instruments. However, only 20 of the prison tattoos had been applied within the last year. Twenty-six of the 111 prison-tattooed men had received their tattoos at the same time as that of another inmate. Crude attempts to sterilize the improvised tattooing equipment were common. Findings indicated that the recent prevalence of tattooing was low among these inmates and suggested the potential usefulness of disseminating advice about more effective hygiene and cleaning methods. Table and 12 references (Author abstract modified)