IN VIEW OF PAST JUDICIAL DECISIONS FREEING CONVICTED RAPISTS WHO REPEATED THEIR CRIMES, AND AMID EXPRESSIONS OF OUTRAGE BY THE MASS MEDIA AND THE PUBLIC, THIS STUDY COMPARES THE SITUATION OF FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGISTS, CALLED UPON TO EVALUATE SUCH DEFENDANTS, TO THAT OF THE JUDGES WHO MAKE THE CONTROVERSIAL DECISIONS. EXCEPT FOR STATES SUCH AS NEW JERSEY, WHICH HAVE A SPECIAL FACILITY FOR HOUSING AND TREATING SEX OFFENDERS, OR COMMUNITIES WITH SPECIAL TREATMENT CENTERS FOR RAPISTS, THE MAJORITY OF CRIMINAL COURTS CAN ONLY OFFER THE FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGIST TWO ALTERNATIVES: PRISON, OR PSYCHIATRIC OR SUPERVISED PROBATION. THIS STUDY EXPLORES THE QUESTIONS RELATING TO SITUATIONAL RAPE CAUSES, OR CAUSES INHERENT IN A RAPIST'S MENTAL DISORDERS OR NEUROTIC OR PSYCHOPATHIC PERSONALITY. IT INDICATES HOW THE FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGIST CAN BE HELPED BY PSYCHOLOGICAL TEST DATA AND KNOWLEDGE OF THE POSSIBLE DRUG OR ALCOHOL ADDICTION OF THE RAPIST UNDER EVALUATION. RAPIST TYPOLOGIES ARE LISTED, WHICH ACCOUNT FOR HIS STYLE, MOTIVATION, AND PSYCHODYNAMICS. TYPOLOGIES INCLUDE THE POWER AND ANGER CLASSIFICATION AND THE CLINICAL (SOCIOPATHIC) TYPOLOGY. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR DIAGNOSIS AND DISPOSTION ARE GIVEN, WITH THE WARNING THAT RAPISTS ARE PRONE TO RECIDIVISM. A FINAL SECTION LISTS AND DESCRIBES RAPIST TREATMENT PROGRAMS FROM A VARIETY OF PSYCHOTHERAPEUTIC PERSPECTIVES (BEHAVIORAL, ANALYTIC, EMOTIVE), ALL OF WHICH CLAIM HIGH (70-100 PERCENT) SUCCESS RATES. A LIST OF 26 REFERENCES IS INCLUDED. (LGR)