BEFORE SETTING UP A RAPE CRISIS CENTER, A THOROUGH SURVEY NEEDS TO BE MADE OF THE COMMUNITY, PRESENT WAYS OF DEALING WITH RAPE AND RAPE VICTIMS, AND NEEDS. ALTERNATIVES TO THE COUNSELING CENTER MAY BE MORE EFFECTIVE. QUESTIONNAIRES USED BY OTHERS FOR SUCH SURVEYS ARE INCLUDED AND ALTERNATIVES DISCUSSED. SHOULD A COUNSELING CENTER BE NEEDED, PROBLEMS WILL ARISE WITH FINDING, TRAINING, AND SCHEDULING QUALIFIED VOLUNTEERS. PRACTICAL PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED ARE GIVEN. TRAINING TECHNIQUES ARE DETAILED, INCLUDING BASIC COUNSELING, REACTIONS OF ADULT AND CHILD VICTIMS, LEGAL IMPLICATIONS, AND SPECIAL PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED IN WORKING WITH THE POLICE. A CHECKLIST IS GIVEN FOR NURSE AND PHYSICIAN EXAMINATION IN ALLEGED SEXUAL ABUSE CASES, TO AID IN GATHERING MEDICAL INFORMATION THE CENTER SHOULD HAVE. A SIMILAR CHECKLIST IS GIVEN FOR INTERACTION WITH THE POLICE. SUGGESTIONS FOR HUMANIZING THE HANDLING OF RAPE VICTIMS BY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES ARE MADE. TECHNIQUES FOR HELPING THE VICTIM THROUGH A COURT TRIAL ARE COVERED. SPECIAL SECTIONS DEAL WITH THE PROBLEMS COMMON TO SUCH CENTERS, INCLUDING EVALUATION, COOPERATION WITH OTHER COMMUNITY AGENCIES, FUNDING, VOLUNTEER DROPOUT, AND LEGAL PROBLEMS. HINTS ON SELF-PROTECTION AND A DISCUSSION OF THE LITTLE-COVERED TOPIC OF GROUP RAPE ARE BASED ON PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE. APPENDIXES LIST THE 54 RAPE CRISIS CENTERS CONTRACTED IN PREPARATION OF THIS MANUAL, THE RESULTS OF THE SURVEY SENT THESE CENTERS, THE MODEL REVISED RAPE LAW, AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY.