Revisiting the development of the criminal policy of the Russian Federation on combating crimes against public morality in sexual relations

Introduction: the criminal legislation plays an important role in the process of ensuring the normal spiritual and moral well-being of society. Chapter 25 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation of 1996 establishes the elements of crimes aimed at protecting public morals in the field of sexual relations. However, at present, the Russian Federation does not have a legallyformulated criminal policyframework for countering crimes against public morality in the field of sexual relations, which makes it difficult to effectively counteract the analyzed categoryof crimes. The purpose of the research is to formulate the proposals on the content of the fundamentals of the criminal policy of the Russian Federation on countering crimes against public morality in the field of sexual relations. Methods: the methodological framework for the research is based on the general scientific methods of cognition. In order to ensure the objectivity of the research, the analyzed problem is revealed as a phenomenon using a systematic approach, which allows us to reveal its mechanism in such a way that the theoretical provisions are used with the maximum efficiency in practical activities. Results: the authors propose to develop and adopt at the legislative level the concept of the state’s criminal policy in the analyzed area, which would fix the goals, objectives, principles, as well as the main directions of the fight against crimes against public moralityin the field of sexual relations in the short and medium term. Conclusions: the authors’ vision of the content of the future criminal policy of the Russian Federation on countering crimes against public morality in the field of sexual relations is proposed.