Conceptual principles of general social prevention of criminal offenses in closed penal institutions in Ukraine

Abstract

. The purpose of the article is to outline the range of issues relevant to Ukraine concerning the implementation of general social measures by state authorities and local self-government bodies, public organizations, etc. for preventing criminal offenses and express an original opinion on certain ways of their solution. Results. The article reveals the challenging issues of studying general social prevention of criminal offenses in closed penal institutions in Ukraine. It analyses domestic scientific perspectives on general social prevention of criminal offenses in closed penal institutions of the State Penitentiary Service of Ukraine. The author identifies the subjects of general social prevention of criminal offenses in closed penal institutions in Ukraine, as follows: the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, the President of Ukraine, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and other public authorities, local self-government bodies, other subjects preventing criminal offenses (the Prosecutor’s office, court, the police, the Security Service of Ukraine). Conclusions. The author put forward a set of actions to improve the system of general social prevention of criminal offenses in closed penal institutions: 1) it involves overall, not partial, financing of the penitentiary system of Ukraine from the State Budget of Ukraine, especially in the part of creation of European conditions of execution and service of punishment in the form of deprivation of liberty provided for by the relevant Law of Ukraine; 2) overhaul of the CPI with replacement, maintenance of engineering and technical and other means of security, supervision, in particular, using the latest technologies; 3) the construction of new and reconstruction of existing pre-trial detention centers and penal institutions according to international standards (individual chamber or no more than two defendants, full video surveillance of these persons at all objects of living, strict criminal and legal measures for attempts of delivery (transfer, transportation, sending, etc.) of prohibited items to places of imprisonment); 4) the creation of appropriate conditions for ensuring effective social protection of personnel of the State Penitentiary Service of Ukraine, including through providing fair salaries sufficient to attract and maintain penal bodies and institutions; 5) adoption by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of the Law of Ukraine “On the Penitentiary System of Ukraine” which shall provide for the creation of appropriate legal, organizational and other conditions for effective public control over criminal executive activities in Ukraine, improving the effectiveness of control over the execution of sentences by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, the President of Ukraine, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, other state executive authorities, the results of which should be brought to the public in the prescribed manner.