The Russian penal system is quite complex, including preventive measures in the form of suspended sentences, house arrest, many types of correctional institutions, including colonies for minors, special prisons for former law enforcement officials, etc.
It is not possible to understand all types of criminal punishment within the framework of one article, so we will touch on only a small part of it - we will find out how the regimes in the colonies of the Russian Federation differ.
Division of correctional institutions into categories
The Criminal Executive Code of the Russian Federation provides for 4 options for the conditions of detention of prisoners:
- colony-settlement;
- general mode;
- strict regime;
- special regime.
The decision on the punishment is made by the court. When determining the regime of a correctional institution, the severity of the crime committed and the number of “walkers” are taken into account. The difference between a settlement colony and a general regime colony, general and strict regime, strict and special is:
- the procedure for serving the sentence;
- living conditions;
- level of security and supervision.
Features of the execution of punishment in correctional institutions of various categories are described in detail in Chapter 16 of the Penal Code of the Russian Federation. Here we will not reproduce the text of the official document, but will provide specific comparisons of the modes.
Russian special regime colonies
How many special regime colonies are there in Russia? Today, there are several penitentiary institutions of this type operating in our country:
- “White Swan” is a Solikamsk prison characterized by extremely strict rules;
- “Black Dolphin” is one of the largest colonies in the Russian Federation, intended for maniacs, rapists and serial killers, all prisoners are under 24-hour video surveillance. Moving around the colony is carried out only with a blindfold, sleeping in the bright light of a lamp; violating the regime is subject to severe punishment;
- Polar Owl , the country's northernmost colony, located above the Arctic Circle, is the final refuge for life-sentence prisoners. It is characterized by harsh conditions and incredibly low temperatures (-40 degrees almost all year round);
- “Black Golden Eagle” is located in the taiga in the north of the Sverdlovsk region. The most famous serial killers of our time are serving their sentences in this institution;
- “Vologda Pyatak” or Russian Alcatraz is located on an island, which eliminates any possibility of escape. Since 1996, prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment have been held here.
Now you know the special regime of imprisonment - what it is, and you can apply your knowledge in practice.
How does a colony-settlement differ from the general regime?
A colony-settlement is a territory of relatively light restriction of freedom. Convicts here are not locked in cells, they can move freely around the territory of the correctional institution, and, upon receiving the appropriate permission from the administration, can go to study and work in the city and even live outside the correctional institution with their family. In KP there are no restrictions on the number of dates, parcels, transfers, receipt and spending of funds.
The difference between a settlement colony and a general regime colony also lies in the number of convicts held. If prisons in Russia are divided into men's and women's, then in free settlements there are dormitories for convicts of both sexes. People who have committed crimes of light and moderate gravity for the first time, as well as those who have violated the criminal law unintentionally, through negligence, are placed under conditions of minor restriction of freedom.
And finally, the third thing that distinguishes a colony-settlement from the general regime is the high value of labor. Attitude to work here is a measure of the degree of correction of the convicted person. Conscientious work is regarded as evidence of developed self-discipline, a person’s ability to adapt socially and lead a normal life in society. You can get parole for a good attitude to work.
