With the increase in women prisoners over the last decade, research on the pre-prison lifestyles, drug use patterns, or previous encounters with the criminal justice system among women prisoners with histories of mental illness had become imperative. If the criminal justice system was to effectively respond to this increasing number of women prisoners with mental health problems, data from a systematic assessment of inmates’ pre-incarceration lifestyles were necessary to determine which factors put these women at risk for criminal justice processing. In this study, the childhood and adult living conditions of female inmates prior to incarceration were examined, as were their patterns of alcohol and drug use and their histories of past criminal involvement and contacts with the criminal justice system. Findings were seen as assisting intervention specialists in addressing these prisoners’ mental health treatment needs while incarcerated. Findings indicated that women accessing mental services were more likely to be older white women, typically undereducated, unemployed, and had children. They were more likely to have experienced physical abuse, mental abuse, and sexual abuse as children and adults and were more likely to have run away and reported poor and hostile relationships with their parents. There was a tendency among women who used mental health services to abuse alcohol and drugs, especially marijuana, cocaine, and heroin. Additionally, women who had used mental services were more likely to have been incarcerated for drug and property offenses. In summary, the research showed there were clear differences between women who had used and those who had never used mental health services. The data indicated a clear need for mental health and drug/alcohol therapies among women prisoners. These findings show that a coordinated effort between prison and community intervention specialists could assist women offenders. Tables and references