Penology as a factor in the development of penal policy and legislation

The article analyzes the status, value and role of penology. The leading penology scholars and existing research schools in Moscow, Tomsk and Ryazan are listed. The current problems that exist in penal science are discussed: the small number of centers where the problems of penal law are studied, the reducing number of scholars in this sphere, the disunity of departmental and academic science. At the moment there are only two research centers (schools) that study and analyze the problems of criminal penalty enforcement: Tomsk State University and the Academy of the Federal Penitentiary Service of the Russian Federation. The leading institution of the RF Federal Penitentiary Service, the Research Institute, for a number of objective and subjective reasons, has practically no doctors of science in the field of penal law at present. One of the essential problems of penal law is its "departmental" nature. As a result, scholars from universities often receive departmental policy requirements to give scientific grounds to the ideas expressed by the authorities on the reform of the penitentiary system. In the author's opinion one of the most promising ways to improve the effectiveness of the proposals prepared by the science lies in the symbiosis of academic and departmental science of penal law. The combination of the advantages of departmental and academic sciences can most effectively influence on the formation of penal policy and legislation in general. A positive example of symbiosis is the joint work of a team of scholars representing both departmental and academic science on the basis of research and educational center "Problems of Penal Law" in 2016. This work resulted in the drafting of the General Part of the new Penal Code. It is essential for penology to have an active exchange of views at various conferences on penal issues. The regular (every other year, the Academy of the Federal Penitentiary Service of the Russian Federation) International Penitentiary Forum "Crime, Punishment, Correction" provides a platform for dialogue to discuss the main directions of the penitentiary system development, the best international practices in the field of correction. Conducting various experiments is also very promising, for example, testing of the model of a correction center for prisoners. Thus, penology is one of the key factors that influence penal policy and legislation.

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