The aim of the present work was to compare hepatitis C prevalence, genotypes, and risk factors between prisoners and non-prisoners in the city of Colatina, Espírito Santo, Brazil. This cross-sectional study involved approximately 1,600 residents and 730 prisoners, all of whom were living in Colatina. The percentage of individuals who tested positive for anti-HCV was 0.1% (2/1,600) in the non-prisoner group and 1.0% (7/730) in the prisoner group, confirming a higher risk of hepatitis C in the latter group. The percentage of subjects who progressed to HCV-RNA negative was 11.1% (1/9), confirming the high probability of evolution to chronicity. Genotype 1 was the most predominant genotype found. Factors associated with increased risk of hepatitis C were being male, being institutionalized, having an income of less than three minimum wages, having low educational attainment, and using injected drugs. Alcohol use, pain in the liver, migraine, and reported history of hepatitis were markedly associated with hepatitis C. The prison population tested positive for anti-HCV at a higher rate than the non-prison population.Uniterms: Hepatitis C/prevalence. Hepatitis C/genotypes. Hepatitis C/risk factors. Hepatitis C/symptoms. Anti-HCV. Prison population/risks evaluation.O objetivo do presente trabalho foi comparar a prevalência, os genótipos e fatores de risco da hepatite C entre a população em geral e os presos na cidade de Colatina, Espírito Santo, Brasil. O presente estudo é transversal e comparou cerca de 1.600 moradores e 730 prisioneiros, todos eles vivendo em Colatina. A prevalência de anticorpos anti-HCV positivo foi de 0,1% (2/1.600), na população em geral, e de 1,0% (7/730) entre os presos, o que confirma o elevado risco nesse grupo. A percentagem de indivíduos que apresentam RNA-HCV negativo foi de 11,1% (1/9), confirmando a alta taxa de evolução para a cronicidade. O genótipo predominante foi o I. Fatores associados ao aumento do risco de hepatite C foram do sexo masculino, sendo institucionalizado, com renda de até três salários mínimos, baixa escolaridade e uso de drogas injetáveis. O uso de álcool, dor no fígado, enxaqueca e relato de histórias de hepatite apresentaram associação significativa com a hepatite C. A população carcerária teve maiores taxas de positividade para o anti-HCV do que a população não-prisional pesquisada.Unitermos: Hepatite C./prevalência. Hepatite C./genótipos. Hepatite C./fatores de risco. Hepatitis C/ sintomas. Anti-HCV. População carcerária/avaliação de riscos. INTRODUCTIONViral hepatitis C, isolated from viral RNA, is a relatively recent discovery (Choo et al., 1989). It has been cited often as a major determinant of chronic liver disease (Martins, Schiavon, Schiavon, 2011) and as a worldwide public health concern (Sy, Jamal, 2006). In Brazil, certain infectious diseases must be reported to the government, which is responsible for the diagnosis and treatment of these conditions. The high rates of morbidity and mortality associated with hepatitis B and C create the need for large inv...