THE DISCUSSION OPENS WITH REFERENCE TO A 1964 SURVEY WHICH FOUND THAT 10 PERCENT OF 122 HOSPITALS RECEIVING SEX OFFENDERS PROVIDED SPECIAL TREATMENT FOR THESE OFFENDERS AND 71 PERCENT TREATED THE OFFENDERS TOGETHER WITH PSYCHOTIC OR OTHER PATIENTS. TREATMENT MODELS, THEORETICAL APPROACHES TO GROUP THERAPY AND OTHER MODALITIES, AND FINDINGS REGARDING COMMON CHARACTERISTICS OF SEX OFFENDERS ARE DISCUSSED, WITH REFERENCE TO SPECIAL PROGRAMS FOR SEX OFFENDERS AT ATASCADERO STATE HOSPITAL IN CALIFORNIA, WESTERN WASHINGTON STATE HOSPITAL, CENTRAL STATE HOSPITAL IN WISCONSIN, AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS. SPECIAL ATTENTION IS DIRECTED TO TREATMENT METHODS USED IN PROGRAMS FOR RAPISTS AND OTHER ASSAULTIVE SEX OFFENDERS. PROBLEMS LIKELY TO CONFRONT PRISON PSYCHOLOGISTS AS THEY ATTEMPT TO ESTABLISH GROUP THERAPY PROGRAMS FOR SEX OFFENDERS ARE NOTED. THE FOLLOWING PHASES IN THE GROUP THERAPY PROCESS ARE IDENTIFIED: WORKING THROUGH OFFENDERS' DISTRUST AND ANGER, BEGINNING WITH LEGAL AUTHORITIES AND PRISON STAFF, AND THEN TURNING TO PARENTS, SIBLINGS, WIVES, AND GIRLFRIENDS; WORKING WITH OFFENDERS' ANGER TOWARD THEMSELVES AND LACK OF ABILITY TO DIRECT THEIR LIVES; AND HELPING OFFENDERS ANALYZE THEIR OFFENSES. THE MAIN GOAL OF SPECIAL THERAPY FOR SEX OFFENDERS IS TO PREPARE THEM FOR PARTICIPATION IN OTHER PRISON PROGRAMS (EDUCATION, VOCATIONAL TRAINING, ETC.) THAT CAN PROVIDE THEM WITH THE SKILLS THEY NEED TO LIVE AS NONOFFENDERS. (LKM)