Prevention of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) transmission is increasingly an international priority. Education of high-risk populations, such as incarcerated individuals, is particularly important in thwarting the spread of HIV. To address this concern, the attitudes, beliefs, and knowledge of inmates concerning HIV and AIDS related issues are examined here. An HIV prevention readiness scale, adapted for this study, was administered to 104 undergraduates from a local college and to 33 inmates at a state correctional facility both located in the northeastern United States. Responses to the survey revealed significant differences between these two groups. A majority of inmates' surveys indicated some ignorance regarding the modes of HIV transmission, although these responses may reflect prisoners' fear and hypersensitivity to the disease. Close living conditions and secretive homosexual activity may increase these fears. The undergraduate sample reported less concern over HIV and were less interested in obtaining further knowledge about HIV, when compared to the prison subjects. This difference may be due to the gap in the socioeconomic status between the two groups and to the lesser likelihood that students knew someone who was HIV positive. Inmates were less afraid to disclose seropositive status than were students, and prisoners reported less likelihood of treating labeled individuals differently. Results indicate that up-to-date HIV education programs are essential for inmates. (RJM)