Consequently, as a result of implemented criminal policy liberalization in the last few years the number of convicts in Latvia has fallen sharply. Despite the fact that the range of the criminal punishment applied for adults and minors does not have a significant difference, the sharp decline in proportion of imprisonment can be explained by compulsory education measures and by forced labor, which are broadly used as criminal punishment in legal procedure of convicted minors. After conducting the analysis of criminal offences committed by minors, it can be concluded that the large amount of these criminal offences are property-related criminal offences, i.e. theft and robbery. However, the amount of violent criminal offences committed by minors, which are directed against human life and health, i.e. infliction of great bodily injuries, smurders, etc., increases with every year. The analysis of the components of crime of the criminal offenses committed by minors shows that the criminal offenses committed by minors are becoming more aggressive, more brutal and better planed, which are often directly or indirectly related to alcohol, psychotropic or narcotic substance abuse or domestic violence. This article identifies and analyses the results of the conducted study on peculiarities of execution of the sentence of imprisonment in respect of convicted minors in Latvia. This study examines the peculiarities of execution of the sentence of imprisonment in respect of convicted minors, identifies specific issues and suggests possible solutions. International standards provide that minor prisoners while being in a closed prison environment are defenseless and are at particular risk; therefore, the study obtains the status of vitally important topicality. Based on the study there has been developed a series of recommendations for the staff (of places of confinement) working with minor prisoners, as well as pointed out the necessity to make amendments to the norms of The Sentence Execution Code of Latvia.
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.