The soviet system of punishment: basic features and class specifics (1920-1930-s)

The article reviews the theoretical foundations of the Soviet punishment system, developed in the 1920-s, which was based on the idea of strict organization of a society according to the social stratification. The author deals with the practice of implementation of the class principles in the Soviet criminal policy in the 1920-s. The theoretical and practical aspects of the class principles application in the judicial practice and the penal system are analyzed. It is stated, that the politicized society gave rise to politicized laws, the distinctive feature of which was the class approach to the definition of the punishments system principles.