THE OFFENDER AID AND RESTORATION (OAR) PROGRAM WAS BEGUN IN VIRGINIA SHORTLY AFTER AN INMATE STRIKE IN THE RICHMOND, VIRGINIA PENITENTIARY. THE STRIKE PRECIPITATED AN EXAMINATION OF THE CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH PRISON AND JAIL INMATES LIVE BY INFLUENTIAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROFESSIONALS AND PRIVATE CITIZENS. THE OAR PROGRAM HAS TWO PRIMARY OBJECTIVES: (1) THE PROVISION OF A ONE-TO-ONE CITIZEN VOLUNTEER RELATIONSHIP WITH THE JAIL INMATE, AND (2) THE PROVISION OF SERVICES FOR EX-INMATES AND THEIR FAMILIES. THE OAR HAS A TRAINING PROGRAM FOR CITIZEN VOLUNTEERS WHICH TEACHES THEM ABOUT THE CIRCUMSTANCES AND EXPERIENCES OF THOSE IN JAIL. NO EFFORT IS MADE TO DEVELOP SKILLED COUNSELORS. THE PERSONALITY OF THE VOLUNTEER DETERMINES HOW HE/SHE RELATES TO THE JAIL INMATE. VIABLE OAR PROGRAMS EXIST IN EVERY VIRGINIA COMMUNITY WITH A JAIL. EFFORTS TO START A PROGRAM SIMILAR TO OAR IN ANY COMMUNITY SHOULD BEGIN BY GENERATING INTEREST AMONG PEOPLE INFLUENTIAL IN THE COMMUNITY AND IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, BEGINNING WITH THE JUDICIARY, THE LOCAL POLICE, THE SHERIFF, THE JAYCEES, AND THE BAR ASSOCIATION. CULTIVATING THE CONFIDENCE OF THE SHERIFF IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT, BECAUSE HE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE OPERATION OF THE JAIL. WITHOUT HIS COOPERATION, IT IS DIFFICULT TO GAIN MEANINGFUL ACCESS TO THE INMATES. A BOARD OF DIRECTORS SHOULD CONSIST OF A CROSS SECTION OF CITIZENS AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROFESSIONALS WHO WILL SET POLICY FOR THE OPERATION OF OAR. (RCB)