The system of punishments for individuals according to the criminal code of the socialist Republic of Vietnam

Introduction. On the one hand, the system of punishments clearly shows the criminal policy of the state and plays an important role in the prevention and fight against crime. The Criminal Code of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (hereinafter referred to as the CC of SRV) provides for two systems of penalties: for individuals and commercial legal entities. The paper examines the system of punishments for individuals provided for by the CC of SRV of 2015 and its features when comparing the CC of SRV of 1985, 1999, and the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. The purpose of the study is to point out the specifics of Vietnam’s criminal punishment system, its shortcomings and limitations, and to conduct an analysis of the content of punishments applied to individuals. The research methods used by the author include the comparative research method and the statistical method of data analysis. The author compares the provisions on punishment in the CC of SRV (1985, 1999, and 2015) to see the changes in the criminal legislation in general and the system of punishments in particular. The results of the research indicated by the author include the following main content: 1) the system of punishments for individuals is relatively diverse. The main punishments are arranged in a ladder of increasing severity; 2) the punishments applied to individuals specified in the CC of SRV of 2015 are more humane. This is reflected in a reduction in the number of crimes for which terms of deprivation, life imprisonment, and the death penalty are provided.