Rationality of Coercion as a Principle to Regulate Execution of Prison Sentences

Introduction: the article discusses the regulatory framework and practice of implementing a principle of rational use of coercive measures enshrined in Article 8 of the Penal Enforcement Code of the Russian Federation. Ambiguity of its understanding is noted in the theory of penal enforcement law. Research: using a systematic approach as a methodological basis, the author substantiates that this principle is not reduced to the economy of coercion, but assumes its necessity and sufficiency in specific conditions of penal enforcement activity. Singling out penalties from the entire system of coercive measures, the author simultaneously identifies subsystems of disciplinary (penal enforcement) and criminal liability of convicts in places of deprivation of liberty. They, in turn, can be studied as model systems enshrined in the law, and systems of measures implemented in practice. Using the published data of departmental statistics of the Federal Penitentiary Service as arguments, the author shows that both systems in the enforcement of imprisonment do not fully achieve their goals, and therefore the principle of rationality of coercion is not implemented effectively enough. Conclusions: it is proposed to change the name and content of Article 321 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation to “Systematic malicious violations of the established procedure for serving a sentence” and amend its content. At the same time, a list of malicious violations of the order of serving a sentence established in Part 1 and Part 2 of Article 116 of the Penal Enforcement Code of the Russian Federation should be revised; an intermediate category of major violations should be introduced and a repeated mere violation should be excluded from their number of malicious ones. In addition, a head of the institution should be entitled not to recognize a violation as malicious when a convicted person commits an act provided for in Part 1 of Article 116 of the Penal Enforcement Code, depending on circumstances of the case and identity of the culprit.