THE PROJECT WAS UNDERTAKEN TO PROVE THAT INMATES CAN BE EFFECTIVE IN ASSISTING OTHER INMATES THROUGH PERSONAL COUNSELING AFTER HAVING RECEIVED APPROPRIATE TRAINING IN BASIC PSYCHOLOGY AND COUNSELING TECHNIQUES. INMATES PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAM WERE TESTED TO MEASURE RETENTION AND EVALUATED INDIVIDUALLY BY MEMBERS OF THE PROJECT STAFF. TO DETERMINE WHETHER TRAINEES WERE ACTUALLY AFFECTED BY THE TRAINING PROGRAM, THEY WERE TESTED BEFORE AND AFTER TRAINING USING THE CARKHUFF COMMUNICATIONS SKILLS INDEX, THE TENNESSEE SELF CONCEPT SCALE, AND THE CALIFORNIA PERSONALITY INVENTORY. FIVE OF THE SIX INMATES WHO HAVE COMPLETED THE PARAPROFESSIONAL TRAINING PROGRAM HAVE BEEN ASSIGNED TO POSITIONS IN WHICH COUNSELING IS A MAJOR RESPONSIBILITY.