THE GROUPS WERE INITIATED AFTER THE PROBATION SERVICE TOOK OVER AFTER-CARE RESPONSIBILITIES IN 1965. FORTY OF THE PROBATION AREAS REPORTED A TOTAL OF 120 GROUPS WITH AN AVERAGE MEMBERSHIP OF 10. MOST GROUPS HAD MIXED MEMBERSHIP, INCLUDING PRISONERS' WIVES, PRISONERS' MOTHERS, WOMEN ON PROBATION, SEPARATED OR DIVORCED WOMEN, AND WOMEN WHOSE HUSBANDS HAD BEEN IMPRISONED BUT WERE NOW FREE. PRISONERS' WIVES CONSTITUTED BETWEEN ONE-THIRD AND THREE-QUARTERS OF MOST OF THE GROUPS. VOLUNTEER INVOLVEMENT AND SUPPORT FROM A PROBATION OFFICER WERE KEY FACTORS IN SUSTAINING A GROUP; 23 HAD DISBANDED AND AN ADDITIONAL 8 HAD DISCONTINUED BUT HAD GOOD CHANCES OF REVIVING. THE GROUPS' MAIN GOALS WERE TO REDUCE LONELINESS AND ISOLATION, TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FROM GROUP MEMBERS AND FROM THE VOLUNTEER AND PROBATION OFFICER, TO GIVE PRACTICAL HELP, AND TO INCREASE WIVES' CONFIDENCE AND ABILITY TO DEAL WITH PROBLEMS. THEY FOCUSED ON SOCIAL EDUCATIONAL, AND FUNDRAISING ACTIVITIES, COOKING AND YOGA. THE HOME OFFICE HAS GIVEN THESE GROUPS ONLY LIMITED ENCOURAGEMENT; ONLY 1 IN 40 PRISONERS' WIVES BELONGS. IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT PROBATION AGENCIES SHOULD AGGRESSIVELY INITIATE SUCH GROUPS AND SHOULD PROVIDE OFFICERS RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR DEVELOPMENT, BECAUSE SUCH GROUPS REFLECT THE PROBATION AND AFTER-CARE SERVICE'S RESPONSIBILITY TO STRENGTHEN THE FAMILY. DESCRIPTIONS OF GROUPS' STRUCTURE, ORGANIZATION, AND FINANCE, AND FIGURES SUMMARIZING THEIR ORGANIZATION AND MEMBERSHIP, ARE PROVIDED. (CFW)