INFORMATION WAS OBTAINED FROM STANDARD ADMISSION HEALTH EXAMINATIONS. FORTY-ONE PERCENT REPORTED A HISTORY OF ILLICIT DRUG USE. MORE THAN ONE-QUARTER OF THE PRISONERS REPORTED A PRESENT ILLNESS, AND THREE-FIFTHS RECEIVED AT LEAST ONE DIAGNOSIS FOR ILLNESS. COMMONLY DIAGNOSED CONDITIONS INCLUDED DRUG ABUSE, PSYCHIATRIC DISORDER, TRAUMA, AND ALCOHOL ABUSE. SEVEN PERCENT OF MALE PRISONERS HAD A PREVIOUS PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITALIZATION. ON EXAMINATION, NEW TRAUMA WAS NOTED IN 10 PERCENT OF THE POPULATION STUDIED. THE AUTHORS CONCLUDED THAT BECAUSE A HIGH FREQUENCY OF MEDICAL COMPLAINTS EXISTS AMONG PRISONERS, PRISONS MUST BE PREPARED TO MANAGE THE MOST PRESSING PROBLEMS OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS WITH AN EFFECTIVE SYSTEM OF MEDICAL SERVICE DELIVERY. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED) ...KAP