The punitive-penitentiary system of Transcarpathian Ukraine

Abstract

A study of the process of normative-legal regulation of the activity of the punitive-penitentiary system in the territory of Transcarpathia in 1944-1946 was carried out.After the liberation of the territory of Transcarpathia in October 1944 local authorities faced the need to address a number of issues, including the formation of a system of punishments and the implementation of penitentiary activities. The processes of punitive-penitentiary nature took place as a gradual process of transformation, as a result of which Czechoslovak democratic traditions gradually adopted the features of the Soviet administrative-totalitarian system.The implementation of the above tasks began with the proclamation of a full amnesty to citizens of Transcarpathian Ukraine for crimes committed before the liberation of Transcarpathia. At the same time, work on the creation of correctional institutions begins. According to the relevant Resolution of the People’s Council of Transcarpathian Ukraine, a labor camp was established to serve sentences by persons sentenced to imprisonment.In some cases, as a form of punishment, the death penalty could be applied. However, such court decisions were executed only after approval by the People’s Council, which could replace them with imprisonment.At the same time, the leaders of Transcarpathia considered the re-education of offenders to be their main task. Therefore, forced (corrective) labor was considered the main type of punishment for offenders. For its organization, the position of referents for forced labor was established.
 At the same time, parole measures, pardon of convicts could be applied, and in cases where trials were inappropriate, a monetary fine was imposed. All this testified to the significant social orientation of state policy in Transcarpathia in the period 1944-1946.