"Word" on the death penalty by domestic lawyer S.E. Desnitsky

Domestic legal thought began to be generated on a regular basis from the second half of the 18th century, and the origins of this process should certainly include the work of Desnitsky Semyon Efimovich. However, it seems that his works have not yet been properly appreciated by both researchers and the public as a whole, although in general the situation in this regard in modern history is improving. The article pays tribute to the Russian lawyer in a certain way, namely, it presents an overview of his work "Word on the Causes of the Death Penalty in Criminal Cases". This relatively small booklet was published in 1770 and in terms of content is a printed speech of his, delivered at Moscow University. In his work, Desnitsky raises a number of issues that seem relevant to this day, in particular, about those social values, for the encroachment on which the act was recognized as criminal. Desnitsky discusses in more detail such punishment for crimes as the death penalty, in particular, he does not question the appointment of the death penalty for murder, for an attempt on state interests. Familiarization with the works of Desnitsky allows you to better understand the features of the development of domestic legal thought.