Changes in the activity of the penitentiary system in Western Siberia (50-60s of the XX century)

The Soviet penitentiary system, formed in the 20s of the XX century, was aimed at compulsory labor activity of prisoners as the main factor of corrective training. In addition, the labor of convicts had a strong economic effect and was successfully used, both during the “Industrialization” and the War and post-War periods. After the death of I.V. Stalin in 1953 there have been a number of changes in the activities of the penitentiary system, expressed in the softening of the detention regime, the liquidation of the GULAG, mass amnesties, improved supply and sanitary conditions for prisoners, and increased security, at the same time. A system of “offsets” was introduced, the possibility of parole reappeared, which implied increased motivation on the part of the prisoners, there were renaming of the names of a number of units. The administration took measures for diverse training of convicts, with mandatory employment after release. But all this correction was not of a fundamental nature, the fulfillment of planned tasks remained a priority, educational work based on the classics of Marxism-Leninism and labor activity was carried out. Numerous problems in correctional labor institutions have not been eliminated. And the policy of “decentralization” implemented by the highest state bodies, unbalanced the activities of the system of places of detention, and contributed to the aggravation of unresolved shortcomings and contradictions. The intervention of local authorities in the activities of units of penitentiary system in the region has not always been justified and effective. The liquidation of correctional labor camps led to an increase in the significant burden on the remaining correctional labor colonies, as a result, new places of detention had to be opened. Western Siberia (especially the Kemerovo region) remained the traditional place of expulsion of the criminal element from other regions of the country, which further increased the burden on the entire penitentiary system.

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