Illegal use of physical force and special means against prisoners: criminological characteristics and preventive measures

The subject. The article outlines the criminological characteristics of the ilegal use of physical force and special means against persons deprived of their liberty.
The purpose of the article is confirmation or confutation of the hypothesis that the reasons for the unlawful use of force methods against convicts are related to the nature of the illegal actions of such convicts.
The methodological base of the study was an analysis of 15 cases of unlawful use of physical force and special means by employees of the correctional facilities against imprisoned convicts committed in the period from 2016 to 2019. The author analyzed 12 sentences on bringing employees of the correctional facilities to criminal responsibility for the unlawful use of these forceful methods, as well as a survey of about 190 employees serving in various positions in the correctional facilities where unlawful use of force was carried out. In addition the scientific works of other authors that affect this issue were studied.
The main results, scope of application. The criminological characteristics of the illegal use of physical force and special means by employees of the correctional facilities against imprisoned persons are presented. The article includes a description of such victims; a description of the circumstances of use of force; a description of the employees of the correctional facilities who allowed unlawful use of force; the reasons and conditions that contribute to the implementation of this use. Based on the above, some measures are proposed that contribute to the optimal solution of the issue of prevention of the unlawful use of force in the Russian penitentiary practice.

Conclusions. The unlawful use of physical forces and special means was carried out against convicts who have destructive moral and psychological qualities, are characterized by a high degree of criminal infection, express a negative attitude towards order and conditions of serving sentences and do not obey the legal requirements of correctional staff. A generalization of the personal characteristics of employees who unlawfully use physical force and (or) special means indicating that they are characterized by positive psychological qualities in general. They strive to be guided by the regulations governing the professional activities of the penal system officer and are positively active in fulfilling their duties. The most probable reasons for the unlawful use of forceful methods of influence against convicts are related to the nature of the unlawful actions of such convicts, provocations, negative features of service due to the specifics of places of deprivation of liberty. Measures taken to prevent the occurrence of negative phenomena in domestic politics can have a positive impact on improving the functioning of the penal correction system, which is in line with legal regulations of a national and international nature.

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