RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY IN INSTITUTIONS OF IMPRISONMENT: CHARITY, SPIRITUAL SUPPORT AND HELPING CONVICTS TO FIND THE WAY TO RESOCIALIZATION

Abstract

The article analyses the statistical data of the religious level of convicts in establishments of the criminally-executive system of Ukraine and compare it with the level of religiosity of Ukrainian society in general. The perspective and most important directions of reforming changes in order to implement the right of the freedom of worship for convicted prisoners are shown, for example, as the possibility to extend a legal status of the prison chaplain.

According to the statistical data which are given by the KVS of Ukraine and by religious organizations, it has been discovered that there is a continuous process of increasing the number of convicts believers. At the same time, the number of representatives of religious organizations cooperating with the criminal-executive institutions also increases even faster than the number of convicts believers. A significant number of religious convicts perceives the implementation of service in the criminal-executive institutions in a positive way. The poor attendance of prison churches, the lack of the Bible books and other religious objects in prisons create a significant potential for religious organizations to develop cooperation with the criminal-executive institutions.

The religious organizations are just one type of civic organizations in Ukraine; however, they have their own motivational specifics and status. Their activities are focused primarily on the spread of their missionary work. Therefore, in order to satisfy their domestic interests, such organizations work towards increasing the number of flocks, in particular, at the expense of such a category of citizens as convicted persons. In addition, at the same time, they carry out cultural and educational, charitable activities, and act as a type of psychologists for those who fell into difficult living conditions and found themselves in safe custody.