Resocialization of persons released from punishment: past and present

The term "resocialization" broadely used in the science and practice of prisoner treatment in recent years is in fact a derivative from the concept "socialization". The latter means the process of human exploration of positive social roles and relations, learning of a certain system of knowledge, skills and values. In this sense, resocialization is a kind of "return to socialization", that is overcoming the "defective" relationship, restoration, creation and development of positive relations by individuals which make them a full-fledged member of society. These individuals can be convicts or people released and resocialization becomes a purposeful activity in their case. . Neither Russia, nor other countries have an integrative concept of resocialization. Penitentiary science and practice in relation to prisoners and the released often use other notions different from re-socialization: "correction", "social rehabilitation", "social integration", etc. However, their uncritical application is confusing not only in theory but also in legislation, which eventually results in unreal and unachievable tasks set before penal policy makers. Meanwhile, there is no reason for mixing these concepts. As mentioned above (which, in general, has long been known), resocialization literally means restoring positive social relations of the convicted. Correction is meant to do the same, but it is similar to resocialization only when the person lives in the community s/he is to socialize. Clearly, this is possible only if the penalties are not associated with isolation from society. In detention facilities correction merely implies the creation of subjective (motivational sphere) and objective (formation of external personality traits) prerequisites of resocialization. The contradiction between the "ideal convicted" and the "ideal citizen" has long been common place in the penitentiary science. It is incorrect to treat convicts' labour in prison as "labour adaptation": one cannot learn to swim out of water. Finally, the concept "social rehabilitation" seems totally unacceptable in this context. The essence of the former is the restoration of an unfairly disadvantaged legal and social status, good name, reputation. In this sense rehabilitation is correctly referred to in Article 5 of the Criminal Procedure Code of the Russian Federation, as well as in other legislative acts. What sort of restoring the good name one can speak about in relation to a convicted criminal?

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