Journal of Security and Sustainability Issues

The aim of the research was to analyse letters written by prisoners so as to discover what the penitentiary space means to them. The practical goal was to show the usefulness of employing epistolography in assessing the quality of social and living conditions and to evaluate the quality of penitentiary practices in the context of prisoners’ needs, as well as to unmask the hidden re-education programme. The article is based on the results of the content analysis of 26 anonymised letters written by prisoners who for the first time serve a sentence in Polish closed regime prisons. The collected research material was subjected to a framework analysis supplemented by an emergent technique. The analysis of prison letters indicates a generally critical assessment of the quality of the practices carried out and their accuracy in relation to the prisoner’s rehabilitation needs. The letters reveal also the existence of a hidden re-education programme. The use of the epistolary corpus in the description of the penitentiary space may result in the improvement of the current penitentiary methods. A thorough analysis of prison letters indicate areas that require change or the application of specific solutions that may contribute to the rationalization of penitentiary practices.

Drugs and prison – this consistent pattern is often undeniable. It is undeniable that most of those people who end up in prison, have used narcotic or psychotropic substances before. The use of substances that causes addiction and the development of addiction is influenced by a number of different factors; in some cases, by the imprisonment itself. The authors of the article offer, continuing with scientific publication cycle, which is dedicated to execution of sentence of imprisonment in Latvia and security aspects of the places of confinement, to become familiar with the study about peculiarities of execution of the sentence of imprisonment and security aspects at the newly established Center for drug addicts of Olaine city prison, where convicted persons, during the serving of a sentence, are involved in addiction reduction programs. The aim of the execution of the sentence of imprisonment is to effectively apply all conditions of the sentence execution in respect of the convicted person, thus ensuring re-socialization of a person and the legal behavior of a person after execution of the sentence. However, it is undeniable that only those persons, who are free from narcotic or psychotropic substances addiction can be re-socialized; therefore, the study obtains the status of vitally important topicality. This article reflects the results of the conducted study about peculiarities of execution of the sentence of imprisonment at the Center for drug addicts of Olaine city prison. The article identifies issues and suggests possible solutions. Based on the study there has been developed a series of recommendations for the staff of the places of confinement working with convicted drug addicts. The authors suggest that the drawbacks and issues discovered within the framework of this study, as well as proposed solutions, will make a significant contribution to the development of the penalty execution theory in Latvia. It will be possible to improve the sentence of imprisonment execution legal framework and practice by using new scientific cognitions stated in this study.

The basis of this paper is the study of legislative acts of such counties as Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Poland, Ukrainie and Russia, related to national security, public order and interests of state prosperity in order to prevent disorders or crimes, to protect health and morality, to safeguard rights and freedoms. The objective of the paper is to assess whether the national legislation meets in this field contemporary requirements, and what are differences in comparison with the legislation of other countries. Our results show that the laws of above mentioned countries are supplemented in due time as much as possible taking into account needs and financial resources of corresponding state. The laws have also similar objectives and tasks. There are some distinctions in application of legal provisions, which, after discussion, would be usefully to introduce into normative regulations of the Republic of Latvia. The norms of law must be clearly defined; the commensurate restrictions must be appropriate for achievement of particular objective, as well as socially necessary. Moreover, the authors of the paper offer concrete proposals taking into account human rights, contemporary situation on the international scene, as well as potential of respective state institution.

From the very beginning of existence of society, there also existed crime, in one or another its ways of manifestation. Historically the punishment tool and the goal of the punishment was greatly dependent on the existing authority, political system, traditions and scale of values in society.

In recent years, there has been a considerable increase of total of the total number of female prisoners. Criminal offences committed by women are becoming more aggressive, more brutal and better planed. The offences are closely related to alcohol, psychotropic or narcotic substance abuse or domestic violence. Therefore, when rendering decisions that in any way affect the conditions of incarcerated women, it is important to pay special attention to the women’s needs, namely their physical, professional, social and psychological needs. The assessment of risks and needs of the convicted women requires particular care and should be made in a tolerant manner, for it shall significantly affect the choice of the applicable social behaviour correlation tools or social rehabilitation tools and other measures that shall be the part of the convicted person’s reintegration plan to prepare the imprisoned woman for productive life in society. This article identifies and analyses of the results of the conducted study on peculiarities of execution of the sentence of imprisonment in respect of convicted women in Latvia. Based on the study there has been developed a series of recommendations for the staff (of places of confinement) working with women prisoners, as well as pointed out the necessity to make amendments to the norms of The Sentence Execution Code of Latvia.