The penitentiary institution is ... The history, types, purposes and structure of penitentiary institutions in the Russian Federation

There are different types of institutions for serving punishment by violators of the law. However, they adopted one general definition - "penitentiary institution." This is a remand prison, a colony of settlers, and, in fact, the prison itself. This definition is understood as institutions intended for convicts, and places of detention for those under investigation.

History of Butyrskaya prison

In the territory of the post-Soviet space there are many prisons. But which penitentiary institutions in Russia have become most famous? Firstly, this is the famous Butyrskaya prison. In it, by the way, were streltsy, organized a mutiny even in the times of Peter I. Under Empress Catherine II Emelyan Pugachev was imprisoned here .

Known Butyrskaya prison and their prisoners during the Soviet period - it contained Mayakovsky, Solzhenitsyn, Mandelstam. As it is supposed, the penitentiary institutions in pre-revolutionary Russia were a place for rebels against imperial power. With the coming to the rule of the Bolsheviks, they conclude here those who dared to oppose the new regime.

The prison consists of twenty buildings, and in total there are 434 cameras in Butyrka.

The most famous correctional facility in St. Petersburg

The next place is the famous St. Petersburg prison called "Crosses". The building is erected from red brick, and next to it is a church with three shining domes. The name of the prison was received according to the architectural form in which the penitentiary institution was built.

This place, despite all its gloomy entourage, is famous for certain exceptions. They concern only those who are called "authorities" in prison. For them in "Crosses" indulgences could go so far that one, for example, kept an iguana, and some managed to organize banquets right in prison.

Place of detention of the most terrible criminals

One of the most terrible prisons in Russia is called "Black Dolphin". From there, they almost never go free - those who have received a life sentence serve their sentence here.

All types of penitentiary institutions have certain internal rules, but the prison "Black Dolphin" is not without reason called a cemetery for bandits. This place has a special history. The prototype of the prison was built during the time of Catherine II and he was in the Orenburg region, in the city of Sol-Iletsk.

The institution was named so because of the statues of dolphins placed in its courtyard. But by the way, prisoners never saw them. As soon as they arrived in the prison, they immediately put on a canvas bag on their heads. It was not without reason, because the "Black Dolphins" were sent the most terrible criminals. They were cannibals, rapists, terrorists. In ordinary prison, such convicts could be torn to shreds.

The most mysterious prison

One of the most mysterious prisons in Russia, the Lefortovo Prison, also became gloomy. It was built in the late XIX century. And at first it was intended for petty thieves and other unlucky violators of the law. But since the beginning of the 1930s, much more serious prisoners have been placed there.

Now the prison is under the jurisdiction of the FSB of Russia. This institution is one of the most strict throughout Russia - it prohibits any purchases and sales between prisoners, and it is almost impossible to get there to an ordinary person. Even if the guest is a representative of the press or television.

"Vladimirsky central" - another institution built by the Imeratrix

Also, Catherine II built the "Vladimirsky Central" prison. About it and sang in his famous song Vladimir Krug. But in fact in this place there is no romantic mood. In the last century, the head of Hitler's security - Hans Rattenhuber, as well as the singer Lydia Ruslanova, actress Zoya Fedorova were held here.

Now the Vladimir central is the only prison in the whole territory of Russia, from where none of the prisoners escaped. The history of penitentiary institutions in Russia has thousands of cases of attempts undermining, cutting off grills or intending to bribe guards. But here all these actions were revealed even before the prisoner managed to make an attempt to escape.

The prison "White Swan"

The prison "White Swan" is a prison-analogue of the "Black Dolphin". It is located in the city of Solikamsk, Perm Krai, and the most dangerous criminals also come here to serve their punishment. The prison can accommodate 510 prisoners. It was built in 1938, and was originally intended for political prisoners and for church ministers. But since 1980 on the territory of the "White Swan" contained and re-educated about 130 "thieves in law."

She received her name not only because of the statuettes, as in the case of the "Black Dolphin". The reason for this poetic, at first glance, name, was the posture in which prisoners can move around the prison - bending over and with their hands behind them. But at the same time throughout the prison you can see statuettes of white swans of different sizes. And both these theories are not mutually exclusive.

History of the purpose of prisons

Previously, those who committed the crime, expected two options for punishment - penal servitude or exile. But the concept of the prison itself appeared about 200 years ago. The penitentiary institution is a concept that John Howard introduced. He is one of the first who suggested not to exile criminals to other territories, but to subject them to re-education. However, despite the efforts of the reformers, it can not be said that there are fewer recidivists. Correctional institutions do not always fulfill their function. The main goal in penitentiary institutions - re-education and correction - is sometimes replaced by a complete collapse of the personality.

This is especially true in Russian prisons. For example, the prison "Vladimirsky Tsentral" is a twin-town prison in the German town of Bochum. German prisoners even came to a Russian correctional facility with humanitarian aid. The fact that they made complaints about prisoners in Germany, who are of Russian origin, was interested in many things, were interested in how they can be pacified. The system of penitentiary institutions of the Russian Federation is one of the most cruel.

A little bit about European prisons

The role of the prison before the prisons were invented was played by the floating prison-ships referred to by the prisoners and the remote quarries.

For example, before the 18th century, those who violated the law in Spain were sent to the galleys. According to memories of one of the prisoners of that time, James Fox, the conditions of detention here were practically hell on earth. Fox was imprisoned on the ship Retribution, where there were about 600 people in shackles, there was terrible dirt and parasites.

Almost a third of all prisoners died for various reasons. Sometimes it just happened because of hunger, because the criminals had to pay the supervisors for food out of their own pocket. Those who finally lost their strength and could no longer work, or who did not have friends or relatives ashore, were doomed to death.

The prison of Thomas Beaver - a correctional institution, bringing in income

But with the course of history, many began to think about the transformation of punishment for crimes. A lot of educated people understood that a penitentiary institution is not a place where a person must necessarily meet his death. First of all, in this institution, he must correct himself and take the right path.

So, for example, in 1875 an aristocrat from England Thomas Beaver created a prison in the city of Norfolk. On his orders, the convicts were in different conditions, depending on the crime that they committed. Also separately in this prison were men and women. Prisoners of the Beaver Prison, known as Wymondham, were required to work six days a week. The profit from their labor was to be twice as high as the expenses incurred by the correctional institution for their maintenance.

Differences of the prisons of Europe from Russian

Modern European prisons in many respects differ from domestic ones. The structure of penitentiary institutions in the Russian Federation does not correspond in many ways to those that fall on correctional institutions. For example, in a prison that can accommodate 9,000 people, there can be 12,000 of them. Some officials believe that the issue can be resolved through the application of alternative measures. For example, instead of confinement, you can use house arrest when it comes to petty crimes.

In European prisons, the conditions of detention can not be compared with the Russian ones. A lawyer can come to the prisoners at any time. On the territory of these institutions are free hairdressers, laundries, as well as small shops. Prisoners in Europe have the opportunity to engage in creative work or master computer literacy. Also in western prisons, prisoners can contact the outside world at any minute - there are automatic phones on the territory of correctional institutions. All cameras in Europe are equipped with a clean toilet. Unlike Russia, where this role is played by a hole in the floor.