A few hours later, six black inmates attacked eight Hispanic inmates as they played cards.

Hispanic inmates and those of other minorities make up 391 of the people on death row.

Hispanic inmates now make up more than 30 percent of the state's incarcerated population, and these numbers are projected to increase significantly in the years ahead.

Otherwise, particularly for the growing number of Hispanic inmates who do not speak English, rehabilitation efforts will continue to be virtually meaningless.

He said there were racial tensions between Hispanic inmates and black officers, who make up 58 percent of the uniformed staff.

Hispanic inmates account for one-third of the 63,000-prisoner population in comparison to one-tenth of the 18,000 state prisoners in 1979.

The study was also based on 17,754 black and 5,521 Hispanic female inmates.

For Hispanic inmates, 55 percent of their children live with grandparents, and 24 percent with their fathers.

Another common tattoo in American prisons and jails, especially for Hispanic inmates, is four dots or three dots.

Mr. King was disciplined in prison in 1995 for a racial disturbance between white and Hispanic inmates.