In 1988 Giddings State Home and School began a structured, intensive, 16-week Capital Offender Group module to address the needs of these troubled youths. Each group meets twice a week and consists of eight students, a Ph.D.-level psychologist, and a master's level therapist. The youths are guided in accessing emotions buried under elaborate defense mechanisms. They are required to role play many aspects of their life stories, including family relationships and accounts of the homicidal events. The re-enactment of the crime is done first as the perpetrator and then from the perspective of the individual's victims. This component is designed to facilitate the youths' awareness of the emotions underlying their actions and to promote empathy for their victims. In expressing their opinions about the experience, its components, and its overall effectiveness, nine juveniles who completed the training are unanimous in their opinion that the program was effective and has given them insight into their feelings and the feelings of others. They report that they have learned to express their feelings, to trust, and to care about their fellow group members and the leaders of the group. All seem confident about their futures after release. Participants have no recommendations for change in the program. Long-term effects of the training have yet to be measured. 2 references