Author

Stukanov V.G.

Title of article

Humanitarian educational programs as a means of correction of convicts in Belarus

Section

Section 5. Penitentiary system

Issue, year

2 (32) 2015

Abstract

Educating convicts is the main means of their correction and prevention from recidivism. The new correction direction is realization of short-term specific programs aimed at humanitarian education of convicts (moral and legal, untinarcotic and antialcoholic, economic and psychological). The purpose of the programs is forming in convicts’ consciousness real, specific law-abiding behaviour models appropriate to their subjective possibilities by satisfying their wants and solving problems of life. They should be aimed at convicts’ training for realizing a complex of social roles, for performing proper duties. Convicts should be trained for labor activity; should be able to organize life conditions, take care of their habitation; be able to build lawful relationships with people; be able to amuse their leisure and spend free time properly. Deliverance from alcohol and drug addiction and forming antialcoholic stability, motivation of sober way of life is of special significance. The efficient realization of humanitarian programs implies satisfying definite conditions. The author proves the necessity of establishing systemic differentiated educational complex for various categories of convicts; training of correctional facilities officers; as well as building constructive communication between officers and convicts; expanding the subjects of educational influence (e.g. participation of trained convicts in realization of programs is permissible). Participation in educational programs should become convict’s obligation, it requires legislative alterations. When imposing punishment the court can establish an obligation to participate in definite humanitarian educational programs. Then undergoing educational programs will become one of the necessary conditions of solving the issues of parole.

Keywords

educational programs, convicts, correctional facilitie.

References

1. Uroven’ obrazovaniya naseleniya [The level of education of the population]. Available at: http://belstat.gov.by/perepis-naseleniya/perepis-naseleniya-2009-goda/vyhodnye-reglamentnye-tablitsy/uroven-obrazovaniya-naseleniya (Accessed 15 January 2015).

2. Metodicheskie rekomendatsii po organizatsii raboty informatsionno-prosvetitel’skikh grupp iz chisla osuzhdennykh: reshenie operativnogo soveshchaniya Departamenta ispolneniya nakazaniy MVD Respubliki Belarus’ N 8os/1 ot 29 dekabrya 2008 goda [Guidelines on the organization of awareness-raising groups of the number of convicts]. The document has not been published.

3. Napravleniya sovershenstvovaniya vospitatel’noy raboty s osuzhdennymi v ispravitel’nykh uchrezhdeniyakh: reshenie seminara-soveshchaniya Departamenta ispolneniya nakazaniy MVD Respubliki Belarus’ s zamestitelyami nachal’nikov uchrezhdeniy po ispravitel’nomu protsessu i rabote s lichnym sostavom ot 29 maya 2007 goda [Directions of improving educational work with convicts in prisons]. The document has not been published.