SOME OF THE SUBJECTS DISCUSSED IN THE DISSERTATION ARE THE PATTERNS OF INMATE HOMICIDE, THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE VICTIM AND THE ASSAILANT, THE ADJUDICATION OF THE CASE, THE VICTIMIZATION RATES OF INMATES AND STAFF, THE COMPARISON OF PRISON HOMICIDE AND GENERAL HOMICIDE PATTERNS, THE INSTITUTIONAL AND CULTURAL CONTEXT OF VIOLENCE, THE RELATIVE DANGER OF CONFINEMENT, AND THE EFFECT OF DETERRENCE UPON HOMICIDE IN PRISON. THE STUDY DESCRIBES THE PATTERNS OF 124 REPORTED CRIMINAL HOMICIDES COMMITTED BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 1973, AND DECEMBER 31, 1973, BY PRISON INMATES. INFORMATION ABOUT THE PATTERNS OF PRISON HOMICIDE WAS DERIVED SOLELY FROM CORRECTIONAL RECORDS, INCLUDING THE INCIDENT REPORT, THE FOLDERS OF THE INMATE VICTIM AND ASSAILANT(S), OR THE PERSONNEL FILE WHERE A STAFF MEMBER WAS THE VICTIM. A REMARKABLE SIMILARITY WAS OBSERVED BETWEEN THE CRIMES OF PRISON HOMICIDE AND HOMICIDE IN GENERAL; HOWEVER, TWO OBSERVATIONS STRONGLY DISTINGUISH THE TWO HOMICIDE CONTEXTS: (1) A SUBSTANTIAL PROPORTION OF PRISON HOMICIDE TENDS TO BE PREMEDITATED; AND (2) RACE IS AN UNIMPORTANT VARIABLE OF PRISON VICTIMIZATION. MULTIPLE-ASSAILANT HOMICIDE IN PRISON IS REPORTED TO RESEMBLE CONTRACT, GANGLAND-STYLE KILLING. OVER ONE-THIRD OF THE HOMICIDES ARE CONSIDERED COMPATIBLE WITH THIS HOMICIDE TYPE. SUCH HOMICIDES WERE PROMPTED BY VIOLATIONS OF PRISON SUBCULTURAL NORMS OR THREATS TO INMATE ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES (HUSTLING). PRISON HOMICIDE IS BELIEVED TO BE STRONGLY ROOTED IN A CULTURE OF VIOLENCE IN PRISON, WHERE THE APPEARANCE OF MASCULINITY AND INVULNERABILITY HAS GREAT PRIORITY, AND AGGRESSION AND VIOLENCE ARE THE ACCEPTED MEANS OF ESTABLISHING AND PROTECTING THAT IMAGE. SOME RECOMMENDATIONS TO REDUCE PRISON HOMICIDE INCLUDE REMOVAL OF WEAPONS FROM PRISONERS, OCCUPATION OF EACH CELL BY ONE PRISONER WHOSE KEY CONTROLS A PICK-PROOF LOCK, REDUCE 'BLIND-SPOTS' TO INCREASE STAFF OBSERVATION, INCREASE SECURITY FOR ASSAULTED INMATES, INCREASE SECURITY FOR NEW INMATES, AND MORE EFFICIENT HOSPITALIZATION OF THE SERIOUSLY INJURED. SUPPORTING DATA ARE INCLUDED. THE APPENDIXES INCLUDE A METHODOLOGICAL DISCUSSION, RESEARCH SCHEDULES, AND A LIST OF SURVEYED INSTITUTIONS. AN INDEX AND BIBLIOGRAPHY ARE ALSO PROVIDED.