The participants were new admissions interviewed during the intake and diagnostic process for Texas State corrections systems in 1994. Structured interviews lasted an average of 90 minutes and used a computer-assisted interviewing system. The data analysis focused on the 396 female offenders sentenced for drug (n=188), property (n=146), and violent or personal (n=62) offenses and excluded the 104 inmates who were sentenced to prison for violating probation conditions. The female drug offenders had engaged in numerous high-risk drug and sexual behaviors. Many had engaged in injection drug use and prostitution. The female drug offenders in this study represented a low criminal risk or threat to the public as compared to violent or property offenders, but a high public health risk. Findings indicated that the war on drugs has produced criminal justice policies that penalize drug users and that may be contributing to the spread of HIV infection in the general population. Findings also indicated the need for prison-based drug and risk-reduction programs. Tables and 39 references (Author abstract modified)