THE SOUTH LONDON WIVES GROUP HAS BEEN OPERATING IN SOUTH LONDON, ENGLAND, FOR A LITTLE OVER 10 YEARS. IT ACTS AS A SUPPORTIVE GROUP FOR FAMILY MEMBERS WHOSE HUSBANDS AND FATHERS ARE IN PRISON. MEMBERS COME TO WEEKLY GROUP MEETINGS WITH THEIR CHILDREN. CASE HISTORIES OF FOUR OF THE GROUP MEMBERS ARE TOLD TO SHOW THE PRACTICAL EMOTIONAL AND FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES ENCOUNTERED BY FAMILIES OF MEN IN PRISON. THE CASE HISTORIES SHOW THE APPARENTLY INEVITABLE FINANCIAL HARDSHIPS BORNE BY THESE FAMILIES AS THE WIFE AND MOTHER IS EITHER FORCED TO WORK, USUALLY AT LOW WAGES, WHILE NEGLECTING THE CHILDREN OR PAYING FOR CHILD CARE, OR STAY AT HOME TO CARE FOR THE YOUNG CHILDREN ON A MEAGER WELFARE INCOME. THE DIFFICULTIES OF MAINTAINING A CONSTRUCTIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE HUSBAND WHILE HE IS IN PRISON ARE MANY. SOME MUST TRAVEL GREAT DISTANCES FOR A PRISON VISIT, ONLY TO BE GRANTED BRIEF AND CONFINING CONTACT WITH THEIR HUSBANDS. THE WIVES OFTEN FEEL THAT THEIR INMATE HUSBANDS ARE SHELTERED FROM THE STRUGGLE FOR SURVIVAL THEY MUST UNDERGO, AS THEIR HUSBANDS' BASIC NEEDS ARE MET IN PRISON. THE WIVES EXPRESS ANXIETY ABOUT THE SEEMING LACK OF REHABILITATION PROGRAMS IN PRISON THAT MIGHT OFFER THEM SOME HOPE THAT LIFE WILL BE DIFFERENT WHEN THEIR HUSBANDS RETURN FROM PRISON. RECIDIVISM IS OFTEN THE FACTOR THAT PRECIPITATES DIVORCE. IMPROVED PRISON REHABILITATION PROGRAMS, PRISON VISITING CONDITIONS THAT FACILITATE MEANINGFUL CONVERSATION (WIVES DO NOT WANT CONJUGAL VISITS BECAUSE OF THE PAIN OF SEPARATION), AND SPECIAL SERVICES OFFERED BY THE STATE TO RELIEVE UNDESERVED BURDENS FREQUENTLY BORNE BY OFFENDERS' FAMILIES BECAUSE OF THE PRISON SENTENCE COULD OBVIATE MUCH OF THE SUFFERING OF INMATES' WIVES AND CHILDREN. (RCB)