SCIENTIFIC SUPPORT OF THE PENITENTIARY SYSTEM FUNCTIONING IN UKRAINE IN TODAY’S ENVIRONMENT

Author (s): Bohatyrov І., Dudka N.

Work place:

Bohatyrov І.,

Professor of the Department of Criminal-Executive

and Criminal Law of Educational

and Research Institute of Law,

Law Enforcement and Psychology,

Penitentiary Academy of Ukraine,

Chernihiv, Ukraine

ORCID: 0000-0003-4001-7256;

Dudka N.,

Senior Lecturer of the Department

of Probation Officers’ Professional Development

of the Institute of Professional Development,

Penitentiary Academy of Ukraine,

Chernihiv, Ukraine

ORCID: 0000-0002-2142-4959

Language: Ukrainian

Criminal Executive System: Yesterday. Today. Tomorrow. 2025. № 1 (17): 159–170

https://doi.org/

Summary

The Russian-Ukrainian war current evolution could not bypass such a vulnerable state institution as the penitentiary system of Ukraine. It is in this system that convicts, persons subject to pre-trial detention and convicts registered with the authorized probation authorities are held. In addition, the Russian-Ukrainian war has added another category to the penitentiary system functioning – the detention of prisoners of war of the Russian Federation.

During the period of serving their sentence, the penitentiary institutions personnel of the SCES of Ukraine, in accordance with their official duties, help the convict to go through three stages of social correction: socialization, resocialization and reintegration and to be released from detention places as a law-abiding citizen. At the same time, in the realities of the legal regime of martial law, when the penitentiary system of Ukraine shows signs of high vulnerability, there are a number of problems that, unfortunately, negatively affect the entire process of executing/serving a criminal sentence in the places of detention of the SCES of Ukraine.

Usually, Ukrainian scholars studying the places of detention of the SCES of Ukraine point out that these places of detention are indeed vulnerable, as they are used to house convicted persons who are serving their sentences for criminal offenses and who need financial, material, medical, legal, social and security support.

The article notes that the insufficient scientific elaboration of the functioning of the penitentiary system of Ukraine under the legal regime of martial law demonstrates the need for Ukrainian scholars to develop theoretical and practical proposals for reforming (developing) this public institution. In particular, this concerns: the commission of new criminal offenses by convicts and personnel of the SCES of Ukraine; creation of appropriate conditions for the employment of convicts in the SCES of Ukraine; optimization of the process of execution/service of a sentence of imprisonment for a fixed term by introducing social correction of convicts at all three stages: socialization, resocialization and reintegration; ensuring the right to security, health care and medical assistance, social protection of both convicts and personnel of SCES institutions; functioning of penitentiary camps for prisoners of war of the R.F., since they are under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine, and ensure order and conditions

Based on the scientific analysis of the functioning of the penitentiary system of Ukraine, the following conclusions can be drawn: first, in view of the reform (development) of the penitentiary system of Ukraine, it is proved that the implementation of the reform in accordance with the strategy until 2026 is not optimistic, since the practical implementation by the bodies and penitentiary institutions of the SCES of Ukraine of all three stages of social correction of convicts in the places of detention of the SCES of Ukraine: socialization, resocialization and reintegration requires not only scientific but also legislative support; second

Key words: penitentiary system, personnel, places of detention, convicts, legal status, pre-trial detention centers, health care, community service, social correction, socialization, resocialization, reintegration, violence.

 

References

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