Nonprofessionals in the rehabilitation of mentally disordered sex offenders.

Eighty-six sex offenders were exposed to a 6-month voluntary program of either group encounters (experimental group) or hobbies and games (control group) led by nonprofessionals. Pre- and posttests included a personality test, an introspective report, and a behavior rating scale. Written ward records were assessed as were the results of a postexperimental prisoner evaluation of the experience. Significant changes were evidenced by encounter subjects in improved feelings of approval of the prison-hospital experience, lessened hostility, and better attendance at the meetings. Encounter subjects were improved in the predicted direction on 55 of the 74 treatment dimensions. Community volunteers were judged moderately successful as lay therapists.