Employment of convinced criminals in penitentiary institutions of Russia (middle XIX - early XX centuries)

The norms of the legislative acts of the Russian Empire in the field of labor use of prisoners are analyzed. The Code of Institutions on Detainees and Exiles (as amended in 1857), other penal acts of the mid-19th - early 20th centuries are analyzed. It is noted that in Russia it was not possible to solve this problem more or less acceptable - the share of convicts involved in paid labor did not exceed 20 percent. The reasons for this phenomenon are shown.