This study investigated the lifetime prevalence of criminal behavior in a population of 360 Research Diagnostic Criteria alcoholics. The same number of control subjects were drawn from the general population of the same catchment area and matched with the patients with regard to sex, age, marital status, occupational level, and community size. The full account of conviction records in a criminal register was used as a measure of criminal behavior. Altogether, 68% of patients vs. 37% of controls had any criminal record. Higher rates were found for alcoholics than for controls for all types of crime; differences were especially pronounced in crimes against property and in violent crimes. We conclude that alcoholism contributes to criminal behavior to a considerable degree, independently of sociodemographic factors.