The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) and the California Psychological Inventory (CPI) were administered to offender groups who were balanced for severity of crime. Rapists were significantly younger than nonrape sexual offenders, but significantly older than the violent offenders. The results of this comparison of 180 rapists, 371 nonrape sexual offenders, and 154 violent nonsexual offenders evaluated during their reception phase of incarceration indicated that the rapists more closely resembled the violent rather than the nonrape sexual offenders. Contrary to predictions, the rapists did not constitute the group with the greatest personality deviance nor did they report the greatest drug or alcohol involvement with the crime. Rapists experienced greater relationship problems, but presented as better adjusted and more confident than the other groups of offenders, although they did not conform to the rules of society. 6 tables and 18 references (Author abstract modified)