Legal regulation of prison care in the Russian empire

At the beginning of the 19th century, after Alexander I came to power, some liberal measures began to be implemented in Russia, which can obviously be regarded as a consequence of the era of enlightened absolutism of Catherine II (for example, a decree on free farmers was adopted, those punished without trial were pardoned, private printing houses, provincial universities, etc. began to reopen). In the same vein, we should mention the decision of the authorities to organize care for those held in prisons and other places of deprivation of liberty, meaning that the conditions of stay in them correspond to the civilizational requirements of that time. For this purpose, the Prison Trusteeship Society was created. The article examines the features of legal regulation of the formation and activities of the Trusteeship Society, focusing on the status of the Trusteeship Society, given that it included both state and public elements. The relevant regulatory legal acts, archival documents, and scientific works that touch on the topic of prison care in the Russian Empire during the 19th century are analyzed. In particular, the positive influence of the Prison Trusteeship Society on the development of Russian penitentiary affairs in general is noted, including in terms of moral correction of criminals serving sentences in places of deprivation of liberty, and this experience deserves attention today.