This report summarizes the results of a 1-year exploratory research project addressing the central question of why women prisoners are less litigious than men. Chapters 1 and 2 present the major research questions, i.e., the legal concerns of women prisoners, resources available to female inmates, and factors related to the availability and use of legal resources, along with a review of the relevant research. Chapter 3 describes the general approach of the study (an exploratory, in-depth study of four prisons (2 all-female; 2-coed) in the Northeast) and defines the research methodology: extensive interviews with commissioners, superintendents, prisoners' attorneys, counselors, law librarians and law clerks, and the inmates; and detailed on-site examination of legal resources in terms of materials and personnel, and the practical circumstances of their availability. Chapter 4 presents the legal needs of female inmates, as ranked by them in six major categories: (1) child custody and family; (2) good time/jail credit; (3) prison programs; (4) appeal and sentencing; (5) disciplinary issues; and (6) detainers and warrants. Prison officials' attitudes to these six issues are also presented. Chapter 5 deals with the legal resources of female inmates, defined as all materials, personnel, and policies facilitating access to the courts. Chapter 6 discusses the availability and actual use of these legal resources including the effects of inmate characteristics, and attitudes and directives of the correctional systems. A final section summarizes the study's findings and provides recommendations. The appendices include the research questionnaires. (WAS)