Correction of the condemned: goal or function of criminal punishment? (To the question of essence and terminology)

Purpose: To study the theoretical and practical aspects of correction as the goal or function of punishment. This paper also aims to establish the correlation between the concepts of correction and re-socialization of convicts. Methodology: Dialectical, system and logical approaches were used. Results: The correction of the convict is currently listed in Part 2 of Art. 43 of the Criminal Code of Russian Federation as one of the purposes of punishment. The author concludes that the modern practice in the field of combating crime increasingly uses the concept of resocialization of convicts as an alternative to the correction of convicts, and analyzes arguments in favor of such replacement. Resocialization of convicts should be considered the function of punishment, and the «correctional impact» concept should be used in practical circulation. Novelty/originality/value: The scientific novelty of the work lies in the fact that the author analyzes the essence of the correction of convicts from the standpoint of goals or functions of punishment. The practical use of the «resocialization of convicts» concept instead of «correction» is argued.