SCIENTIFIC APPROACHES TO THE STUDY OF THE INSTITUTE OF PREPARATION FOR THE RELEASE OF PRISONERS

The article examines approaches to the study of the institution of preparation of convicts for release. Within the framework of the functional-targeted approach, the author analyses the views of scholars on the purpose of preparing convicts for release within the framework of national legislation and international standards. Based on the analysed material, the author determines that the purpose of preparing convicts for release should be to facilitate their reintegration into society after release from prison. Within the framework of the stage approach, the author analyses the views of scholars on the timeframe for preparing convicts for release within the framework of national legislation and international standards. Based on the analysed material, the author supports the position that the reintegration process should be divided into penitentiary and post-penitentiary stages. The author emphasises that when preparing convicts for release, it is more correct to talk not about direct practical reintegration, but about preparation for it, about creating its objective and subjective prerequisites, since it is possible to talk about the practical implementation of the reintegration process only when a person is directly in society. Within the framework of the activity-based approach, the author analyses the views of scholars on the participants in the preparation of convicts for release and the measures which it includes within the framework of national legislation and international standards. Based on the material analysed, the author emphasises that activities aimed at preparing convicts for release should be carried out by the staff of penitentiary institutions throughout the entire period of execution of a court sentence, and at the final stage, in cooperation with probation authorities and social welfare providers. The author emphasises that the measures taken in relation to convicts should be set out in a balanced programme of measures which should include a plan for the execution of a court sentence and a strategy for preparation for release. On the basis of the analysed material, the author formulates a definition of the concept of preparation of convicts for release, which is understood as a system of measures taken by penitentiary institutions from the first day of serving a sentence, and at the final stage, in cooperation with probation authorities and social welfare entities, aimed at facilitating the reintegration of convicts after release from prison, by creating objective and subjective prerequisites for this.