For inmates, involvement in the self-help process may relieve some of the "pains of imprisonment" associated with psychological and physical deprivations that are an inevitable part of incarceration. Research indicates self-help groups provide a specific support system that meets certain social and cultural needs of inmates. Some self-help groups also provide training in leadership and organizational development and management. For correctional administrators, opportunities associated with the self-help movement are obvious. Under certain conditions, these groups satisfy a fundamental goal of corrections to meet the social and cultural needs of offenders. Further, self-help groups promise to relieve correctional administrators of some of the responsibility they have for providing rehabilitative sanctions. Self-help groups for inmates are classified into four broad categories: de-stigmatization programs such as Seventh Step, groups for the addicted such as Alcoholics Anonymous and the disabled, ethnic groups, and human potential groups. 4 notes