THE SPOUSES TRAINING PROGRAM BEGUN BY THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY (CALIF.) SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT RESULTED FROM THE COMBINED EFFORTS OF THE DEPARTMENT PSYCHOLOGIST, THE SHERIFF, THE UNDERSHERIFF, AND A GROUP OF THE DEPUTIES' WIVES WHO HAD INSTITUTED AN ALL-DAY YEARLY SEMINAR IN 1974. THE PROGRAM ACQUAINTS WIVES WITH THE ORGANIZATION AND OPERATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT AND HELPS THEM DEAL WITH THE MARITAL AND OCCUPATIONAL STRESSES TYPICALLY ASSOCIATED WITH POLICE FAMILIES. THE DEPARTMENT PSYCHOLOGIST IS QUOTED IN REGARD TO THE PROGRAM AND THE STRESSES AND BEHAVIORAL PATTERNS OF POLICE OFFICERS. OFFICER'S WIVES AND OFFICERS THEMSELVES GIVE REACTION TO THE PROGRAM AND THE PRESSURES OF POLICE WORK. ORGANIZATIONS OF POLICE WIVES IN OTHER AREAS ARE MENTIONED, WITH THE CHARACTER OF MANY BEING SOCIAL BUT PROVIDING A SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT. THE VALLEY WIVES OF LOS ANGELES DEPUTY SHERIFFS IS MENTIONED AS AN EXAMPLE OF A COMMUNITY-ORIENTED, SELF-HELP ORGANIZATION THAT FOCUSES ON PROBLEMS PREVALENT WITHIN THE FAMILIES OF DEPARTMENT OFFICERS. THE ORGANIZATION OF NEW YORK POLICE WIVES IS DESCRIBED AS ONE THAT HAS MOVED FROM POLITICAL ACTIVISM ON BEHALF OF THEIR HUSBAND'S JOB BENEFITS TO A CONCENTRATION ON HELPING WIVES WITH PERSONAL AND MARITAL PROBLEMS. (RCB)