Psychologicaland Pedagogical (Group) Classification of Persons Sentenced to Imprisonment

Introduction. The modern penal enforcement policy of our state dictates the need for new means and methods of correction of those sentenced to imprisonment. This area is especially important in the framework of the Conception of development of the Russian Penitentiary System by 2030, which presumes it is necessary to classify convicts, implement differentiated correction and individualize executing of the sentences. A special role is assigned to the psychological and pedagogical classification of convicts. Its main task is to structure convicts into groups during their imprisonment. The criteria for structuring in this case are the behavior of convicts while serving their sentence, their criminological characteristics, as well as their achievement of a certain “stage of correction”. The purpose of the research is to identify features and problems of implementation of psychological and pedagogical classification of persons sentenced to imprisonment. Materials and Methods. The dialectical method of cognition of phenomena was employed. The general method of scientific knowledge — comparison, and methods of theoretical research: analysis and synthesis, induction were also used. Results and Discussions. The current Penal Code of the Russian Federation provides for the principle of differentiation and individualization of the execution of sentences, and its implementation should be facilitated by a proper classification of those sentenced to imprisonment, which is relevant to all its norms. In penitentiary theory, the issue of reanimating the institution of “social escalator for convicts”, when they are included in the progressive system of execution and serving of sentences, becomes relevant. Moreover, the theory of law raises the question of the relationship between the principle of keeping various categories of convicts separately and the classification of convicts. A special emphasis is put on the initial and final stages of serving the sentence, which has a social adaptation orientation. The authors prove it necessary to provide for these stages in penal legislation. Conclusions. The paper contains the authors' vision of classification of persons sentenced to imprisonment, as well as its separate type — group (psychological and pedagogical) classification. Within the group classification of convicts, the initial, main and final stages of serving a sentence are distinguished.