ATTENTION IS GIVEN TO THE ROLE OF THE COUNSELOR IN SUCH EFFORTS, WHICH CAN RANGE FROM PERSONAL FAMILY FRIEND TO DESIGNER AND EVALUATOR OF A COMPLEX PROGRAM, AND TO THE COUNSELOR'S WORK SETTING, WHICH MAY BE IN A PAROLEE'S HOME, IN A HALFWAY HOUSE, OR WITHIN PRISON WALLS. A BRIEF HISTORY OF COUNSELING IN THE CORRECTIONAL FIELD FROM ITS DEVELOPMENT IN THE EARLY 1900'S TO 1978 INCLUDES DESCRIPTIONS OF THE VARIOUS SETTINGS IN WHICH COUNSELING OCCURS, THE VAST DIFFERENCES IN THE CLIENTELE, AND THE WIDELY DIFFERENT APPROACHES USED IN COUNSELING EFFORTS. DIFFERENT THEORETICAL ORIENTATIONS AND IMPLEMENTATION FOR INDIVIDUAL, GROUP, CLIENT-CENTERED, FAMILY, AND LARGE GROUP INTERACTION (COMMUNITY LIVING GROUPS) COUNSELING ARE DISCUSSED. DIFFERING OBJECTIVES THAT MAY BE ACHIEVED THROUGH CAREER GUIDANCE, GENERAL ADJUSTMENT, AND EMOTIONAL REORIENTATION PROGRAMMATIC EFFORTS ARE DESCRIBED, AND WAYS OF TAILORING THESE OBJECTIVES TO INDIVIDUAL CLIENT NEEDS ARE TREATED. ONE SECTION TRACES AN INDIVIDUAL THROUGH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROCESS, HIGHLIGHTING THE KINDS OF COUNSELING HE OR SHE MIGHT ENCOUNTER AT VARIOUS STAGES. SEVERAL FACTORS WHICH HAVE INFLUENCED THE DIRECTION OF COUNSELING EFFORTS AT VARIOUS GOVERNMENTAL LEVELS ARE BRIEFLY EXPLORED. A REVIEW OF STUDIES OF COUNSELING EFFECTIVENESS IS PRESENTED, AND SOME PRACTICAL GUIDES FOR THOSE WHO ARE PLANNING COUNSELING PROGRAMS IN CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS ARE OFFERED. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED.