Theory and methodology of studying socio-psychological maturity of youth male convicts serving sentences in penal colonies

This article analyzes the approaches used by domestic and foreign science to explore the psychological maturity of the person in general, and psycho-social maturity of subjects, in particular. There has been an increase of youth convicts, and thus, the focus is made on peculiarities of their personal transformation while serving the sentence of deprivation of liberty. The authors specify the indicators and criteria for assessment of the social and psychological maturity. It is argued relevant not only to foster a comprehensive study of this phenomenon among male inmates in penal colonies with different operational conditions but also to conduct an experiment aiming to strengthen it in regard to compassionate attitude towards prisoners.