SINCE ADAPTATION TO AND RECEPTION BY FAMILIES ARE LIKELY TO BE CRITICAL FACTORS IN THE OVERALL ADJUSTMENT OF OFFENDERS AFTER RELEASE FROM PRISON, MARITAL AND/OR FAMILY THERAPY SHOULD PROVE VALUABLE. IDEALLY, IT SHOULD CONTINUE INTO THE POSTRELEASE PERIOD FOR 3 TO 6 MONTHS TO HELP EX-OFFENDERS AND THEIR FAMILIES HANDLE INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS, UNANTICIPATED PROBLEMS, AND READJUSTMENT AND TO ASSURE THAT GAINS MADE DURING IMPRISONMENT ARE REINFORCED. CRITICAL CONCERNS OF INCARCERATED WOMEN REVOLVE AROUND THE CARE OF CHILDREN AND HOW THEY CAN MAKE UP FOR THE TIME THEY HAVE LOST. BOTH THE PERSONS INCARCERATED AND THEIR PARTNERS OFTEN EXPERIENCE MISGIVINGS ABOUT THEIR OWN AND THE OTHER PERSON'S AFFECTIONAL NEEDS. CORRESPONDENCE, UNRESTRICTED AND UNCENSORED, FACILITATES OPEN COMMUNICATION AND SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED. FAMILY VISITS TO PRISONS ARE SOMETIMES PERMISSIBLE AND FEASIBLE; VISITATION HELPS TO MAKE RE-ENTRY INTO SOCIETY AND THE FAMILY ENVIRONMENT EASIER, FURLOUGHS ALSO ENABLE PERSONS TO MAINTAIN IMPORTANT EMOTIONAL PHYSICAL TIES. THERAPY CAN AND SHOULD BE USED AT ANY TIME DURING INCARCERATION WHEN A PRISONER IS REACTING TO THE STRESS OF SEPARATION, ISOLATION, SUSPICION, AND SEXUAL FRUSTRATION. THEMES TO BE EXPLORED IN PRERELEASE THERAPY ARE DELINEATED, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF THERAPY AFTER RELEASE IS STRESSED. REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (DEP)