What is a colony? States as colonies and the modern meaning of the term "correctional colonies"

What is a colony, most of us remember from the lessons of history. The colony is a dependent territory that is under the authority of some foreign state (metropolis). At the same time, political and economic power can not be exercised on it, and management is conducted on the basis of a special regime. The citizens of the metropolis in the colony have greater power and privileges than the native inhabitants. From a historical point of view, the formation of settlements meant that states sought to expand their sphere of influence by capturing other countries and continents.

From the history

What is the colony, we determined. Now it's time to figure out which countries and how they took part in the colonization of various states. Thus, already in the middle of the XVI century, Spain took full control of the American continent, and the Spanish colonies occupied virtually the whole of North America, while the rest of the European states could not conquer at least part of the American lands. However, in an effort to obtain gold and silver, the Spaniards ceased to manage their territory competently, and the prolonged war with the Netherlands greatly undermined Spain's capabilities. All this affected the fact that the rapidly developing England began to take away leadership in the conquest of the world.

The administration of colonies and the colonial policies of different countries

The first colonies of North America, which appeared in the 17th century, were founded by settlers from France, England and Holland. Massive was the influx of English colonists. The first English settlement here was Virginia, then on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean there were another 13, the total population of which exceeded 2.5 million people. It must be said that the aborigines in the Iroquois and Algonquin people at first treated the colonists quite tolerantly, taught them many things. That is, it was the Indians who were able to adapt the Europeans to live in completely different conditions. But it turned out that as a token of "gratitude" the latter were captured by local lands, and the inhabitants were turned into slaves. It is noteworthy that the territories were managed directly from England, that is, the king appointed the governor of each settlement. There were entire colonial assemblies, during which voters could determine the future ruler.

The essence of the policy was to enslave and exploit the population for certain purposes. The same thing was done in Rome and other slave states, when slaves were captured, enslaved countries plundered, various riches and resources were taken from them. The very first colonial empires were Spain and Portugal, which were formed immediately after the Great Geographical Discoveries. Thus, the Spaniards enslaved Central and South America, Portugal opened the way to India, while capturing the coasts of Africa and Brazil. Having exterminated hundreds of thousands of people, they turned aborigines into whole regions and regions.

Speaking of colonization, it should be noted that the very first were the Greek colonies. But in this territory the process of the formation of new states was completely different, that is, each of them was independent. It turned out that colonization helped in saving Greece from a social explosion, because potentially dangerous and alien forces did not penetrate into the cities. In general, this state was not very militant, compared, for example, with France. In 1713, the French colonies included five provinces in present-day Canada and the USA, namely Canada, Acadia, Hudson Bay, New Land and Louisiana.

The Spanish colonization of the New World began after Columbus discovered America in 1492. It was necessary to look for ways to India, which would be safe and fastest. As a consequence, the researchers gradually expanded the Spanish colonies. All the islands and countries that were on the way of Columbus to India, he considered subjects of Spain: the Bahamas, Haiti, Cuba, Tortuga, the Lesser Antilles, the Virgin Islands, Guadeloupe - all this was part of the Spanish possessions.

American territories

All North American colonies can be divided into 3 groups. The first belonged to the northern territories, which united a common name - New England. Here there was a purely English spirit, industry was actively developing. The second group included southern colonies (Virginia, North and South Carolina, Georgia). Here the basis of the economy was the plantation, on which Negroes worked. Between these two groups of territories were located North American colonies, where farming was actively conducted, and estates were established. This included areas around New York, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey.

The largest colonial power was also England, which gradually increased its geographical domination by subjugating itself to France, Holland, Spain, Portugal and India. The next states on the path of the British were China and Afghanistan. It was after the seizure of points in the Persian Gulf that Britain was able to become the most powerful power in the world and remained in this rank throughout the entire 19th century.

However, over time, the struggle for domination in the world led to the emergence of numerous wars and conflicts, which was further aggravated by the uneven political and economic development of capitalism. Germany, Italy, the United States and Japan did all they could to establish their power.

Already in modern times between the two wars - the First and Second World - the states began to gradually be freed from colonial oppression. So, in 1943 Syria and Lebanon became independent, Vietnam and Indonesia in 1945. Later, other states were gradually freed. Thus, the disintegration of the colonial system in the world took place.

How the management was conducted

To understand what a colony is, it is important to know how management was conducted in it. It is worth noting that each country pursued its goals when creating such a territory. Someone wanted to conquer more space and establish a total control on it. Some countries pursued exclusively enlightening-expansionary goals. Any colonies - French or English - were governed by a layer of people from the elite, while the official language was the language of the colonialists.

The colonies were created in such a way that several problems were solved at once. From the economic point of view, it was possible to exploit natural and human resources. By creating colonies of peace, the conquerors optimized trade routes and markets. Foreign policy goals were achieved, which were caused by geostrategic interests. It is difficult to understand what a colony is, if one does not know its characteristics. What distinguishes this territory? First, political dependence and the existence of a special legal status. Secondly, geographical isolation. Thirdly, the differences between Aboriginal and metropolitan populations in terms of religion and culture.

New meanings of the concept

Today we know more such a thing as a correctional colony. This institution, which contains adult citizens, convicted and deprived of their liberty. In the correctional system there are three types of colonies-settlements depending on the type of crime:

1. For persons who have committed the crime unintentionally.

2. For persons who are convicted for the first time for an intentional crime of small or medium gravity.

3. For people who are characterized with a positive side.

However, any regimes of correctional colonies stipulate that all categories of citizens do not need permanent protection or strict isolation. At the same time, all convicts are punished in all kinds of settlements under the same conditions. In addition, they are not limited to free movement in the territory, and with the permission of the administration may even be without supervision outside it. For example, such a need may arise if the convict needs to study or work outside the settlement.

Colony Modes

The type of correctional institution to which the convict will be sent depends on what the court will establish. For example, convicts sentenced for careless or willful acts of small or medium severity are sent to a colony-settlement. The labor colonies of the general regime are intended for those who are deprived of their liberty for committing grave crimes. Settlements are sent to high-security settlements, who are punished for especially serious crimes committed for the first time, or those who have committed acts repeatedly. In the colony of special regime are men sentenced to life imprisonment. Representatives of different sexes are kept separately in correctional colonies.

What is IR?

All types of correctional colonies Have common characteristics. So, this territory is an industrial zone, consisting of industrial premises and living space. It is divided into local areas where dormitories for prisoners are built. Most of the ICs have a dining room, a library, a school, a medical center, a club, a bathhouse, and a headquarters (administrative staff serve in it). Most often in the area there is a church or a place for prayers, as well as a room for visits.

In a territory with a general regime of residence, prisoners are kept in lockable cells, and these premises are designed for 20-50 people. In other detention regimes, convicts are distributed to dormitories or barracks. In them, the sleeping rooms are three tiers of beds, with 7 square meters per person. Space. Those convicts who are sentenced to life imprisonment are held in cells of two people. In some IR you can ask for a solitary confinement. In such a hostel, apart from the bedrooms, there is a room where personal belongings, a cloakroom, a room for food and a "red corner", where various cultural events are held, are stored.

All the colonies, except those that have a special regime, have a platform for walking, where prisoners can go in their spare time. There are also premises for the execution of penalties for behavior: a penal prison (here prisoners can be kept for up to 15 days) and a chamber type room (the convicts serve a sentence of up to six months here).

Female colony

In recent years, convicted men and women are increasingly serving their sentences in various places. Colonies for representatives of the "weak" sex belong to the territories of the general regime, where they serve time for murder, theft, robbery, robbery, fraud and any other economic crimes, as well as for drug operations. With 13 settlements in Russia, the Children's Home is working. In this case, mothers and children live separately, meeting during the day one hour. In the women's colonies, as in most such correctional institutions, there are strict, ordinary and facilitated conditions of stay. Depending on this type, women can have one or more dates during the year.

A convict may live outside the IC with a family or children. True, such cases are rare. Once a month convicts can call relatives or someone else, but for this you must first write a written appeal. The conversation lasts only 15 minutes. Unlike men, women can receive an unlimited number of parcels and gear. They live in dormitories for 100-120 people in one barracks. Labor in any correctional colony plays an important role, because for most convicts it is a good opportunity to earn at least a little. However, after all deductions, it may turn out that the salary is only 500 rubles.

Children's colony

In another way, this type of institution is called an "educational colony", where minors are sent. They can be convicted of willful acts of varying severity. They also send minors who have been transferred from other places of serving their sentences. Those teenagers who committed premeditated crimes are kept in strict security conditions. In the same institutions, as a rule, there are those who violated the order of stay in the place of confinement, as well as those who are transferred from facilitated conditions. After six months they can be transferred back if they serve their sentence in accordance with all the rules.

In the educational colony, where a general and strengthened regime is established, convicts live in dormitories. They are allowed the following:

- the opportunity to purchase monthly funds for the first time on money from your personal account (in the amount of 60% of the minimum wage);

- Six short and two long visits during the year;

- 8 parcels / transmissions and 8 parcels per year.

Convicts who serve time under facilitated conditions also live in hostels. The features of their existence are somewhat different:

- they can spend 120% of the minimum wage on means of first necessity;

- 12 short and 4 long appointments are given to them each year, and long visits can take place outside the educational colony, if the administration approves it;

- in a year they can receive 12 transmissions / parcels and the same number of parcels.

If the convict is found to serve a sentence in concessional terms, they can live in hostels and outside the territory, without protection, but under the supervision of the administration. Such groups of convicts have many benefits, including the opportunity to spend the necessary amount of money a year, receive an unlimited number of parcels and parcels, reside outside the colony and wear civilian clothes.

A children's colony of strict conditions presupposes living in isolated living quarters, which are locked in their spare time. They can spend money from their personal account in the amount of 30% of the minimum wage, receive 4 parcels / transfers and 4 parcels and have 4 short visits a year.

Rules of stay in an educational colony

As a rule, convicts who are 18 years old can stay in the colony for up to 21 years. At the same time, the norms of nutrition, the conditions of serving punishment and the rest of the provision they have are the same as before 18 years. Those convicts who have reached the age of 18 and have been characterized negatively are transferred to serve a further sentence in a strict-regime correctional colony, and the decision is taken by the court. The remaining 21-year-olds are sent to the correctional colony of the general regime. In this case, after serving 9 months, convicts from a strict regime colony can be transferred to general conditions.

Strict mode: what features?

The new Criminal Code of Russia suggests that life imprisonment is a peculiar alternative to the death penalty for committing particularly serious crimes. Life imprisonment is provided for in the following cases:

- if the murder was committed under aggravating circumstances;

- if the encroachment was committed on a state or public person;

- if an encroachment on the life of a person who administers justice or conducts a preliminary investigation has been committed;

- if there was an attempt on the life of a law enforcement officer;

- with genocide.

Lifetime deprivation of liberty is not imputed to women, minors and men who, at the time of sentencing, are already 60 years old, even though the Criminal Code treats such a sentence as isolating the convicted person from public life. Thus, convicts who were sentenced to life imprisonment will serve their sentence in a strict regime colony separately from the rest of the prisoners.

Thus, in this article we tried to make out what a colony is. Of course, in our day this word stands for a completely different phenomenon of our life. In the most general sense, the colony as a closed territory with its charter, rules and regime is reflected in modern correctional institutions.