THE TREATMENT OR REHABILITATION OF THE DANGEROUS SEXUAL OFFENDER (RAPIST OR CHILD MOLESTER) CONSTITUTES A NEW FRONTIER IN THE MEDICAL AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES. TO A LARGE EXTENT, MENTAL HEALTH AGENCIES HAVE LET THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM ALONE DEAL WITH THE DANGEROUS OFFENDER; 'TREATMENT' FOR THE MAJORITY IS SOME FORM OF PENALTY SUCH AS FINE, PROBATION, OR PRISON SENTENCE. FORTUNATELY, THERE APPEARS TO BE A GROWING REALIZATION THAT PENALTY ALONE IS INSUFFICIENT TO REHABILITATE THE DANGEROUS OFFENDER. TREATMENT, HOWEVER, IS DEPENDENT UPON CAREFUL AND ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS. IT IS NOT KNOWN WHAT CREATES A RAPIST OR CHILD MOLESTER, THE SPECIFIC PATTERN OF LIFE EXPERIENCES, SITUATIONAL FACTORS, AND PRECIPITATING EVENTS THAT PROMPT SUCH BEHAVIOR; EFFECTIVE TREATMENT METHODS ARE, THEREFORE, NOT EASY TO DETERMINE. NEVERTHELESS, TREATMENT EFFORTS CAN BE DIVIDED INTO THREE BASIC CATEGORIES INCLUDING PHYSICAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL, AND BEHAVIORAL. PHYSICAL TREATMENT METHODS INCLUDE PSYCHOSURGERY AND SURGICAL AND CHEMICAL (HORMONAL) CASTRATION. PSYCHOLOGICAL TREATMENT MODALITIES ENCOMPASS ALL FORMS OF PSYCHOTHERAPY SUCH AS INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING AND GROUP THERAPY. BEHAVIORAL TREATMENTS SEEK TO ELIMINATE THE INAPPROPRIATE SEXUAL RESPONSES OF OFFENDERS AND REPLACE THEM WITH MORE ACCEPTABLE BEHAVIORS. BEHAVIORAL APPROACHES FOCUS ON THE SYMPTOMS WHEREAS PSYCHOLOGICAL REHABILITATION FOCUSES ON PERSONALITY CHARACTERISTICS OR OFFENDER TRAITS. IT IS URGED THAT THOSE SPECIALIZED TREATMENT PROGRAMS WHICH HAVE PROVEN EFFECTIVE BE USED FOR THE DANGEROUS OFFENDER, AND THAT A SHARING OF KNOWLEDGE IN THIS FIELD BE ENCOURAGED THROUGH LECTURES, WORKSHOPS, AND SEMINARS. (LWM)