The rates of HIV infection among prisoners in most countries are significantly higher than in the general population. HCV seroprevalence rates are even higher. While most prisoners living with HIV or AIDS and/or HCV contract their infection(s) outside the institutions before imprisonment, there is evidence that the risk of being infected in prison, in particular through sharing of contaminated injecting equipment and through unprotected sex, is great. Outbreaks of HIV infection have been documented in a number of countries. Since the early 1990s, various countries have introduced HIV and, to a lesser extent, HCV prevention programmes in prisons. Part 2 of the select annotated bibliography on HIV/AIDS and HCV in prisons contains selected ''essential'' articles and reports that provide information about (1) prevalence of HIV, HCV, and risk behaviours in prisons; (2) transmission of HIV and HCV in prisons; and (3) measures aimed at preventing HIV and HCV infection in prisons: education, voluntary testing and counselling, provision of condoms, prevention of rape, sexual violence and coercion and bleach and needle and syringe programmes. Each section also contains a brief review of the evidence, based on recent work undertaken by WHO.