METHODOLOGICAL TOOLKIT RESEARCH OF THE PENITENTIARY SYSTEM OF UKRAINE: CONCEPT AND CONTENT
Authors:   Zhytomyr Polytechnic State University,  Honored Worker of Science and Technic of Ukraine, Bohatyrov І. , Tkachenko О. ,   Institute of Professional Development,  Academy of the State Penitentiary Service,  Chernihiv, Ukraine
Published: December 2024

This article presents the author’s own position regarding the methodology of the study of the penitentiary system of Ukraine, since there is no single point of view in penitentiary science regarding the needs of methodological support for the study of the penitentiary system of Ukraine. The methodology of the study of the penitentiary system of Ukraine is considered by us as the cognitive basis of the subject of research, and therefore we show the methodology as a system that combines: theoretical principles, general scientific and private scientific methods of cognition, combining dialectics, epistemology and logic.

It is certain that the research methodology of the penitentiary system of Ukraine is included in the system of scientific knowledge not only of law, but also of pedagogy and psychology. This can be explained by the fact that the knowledge of these sciences fully corresponds to the order and conditions of execution/serving of punishment. European rules and international standards for the treatment of convicts and prisoners are based on this conceptual basis.

At the same time, the methodology of the study of the penitentiary system of Ukraine not only creates effective and optimal conditions for learning the content of the object and the subject of the study, but is also necessary for conducting such a scientific search, since this study is designed to accompany the reforms carried out by the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine under the conditions of the legal regime martial law.

At the same time, the outlined problems show the existence of methodological approaches in penitentiary science and provide not only recognition of methodological knowledge about the penitentiary system, but also adequate solution of the problems of the criminal-executive direction.

Taking into account the fact that the state policy in the field of execution of punishments and probation belongs to complex system objects of research, therefore their complexity, multifacetedness and social nature require a comprehensive study of the methodology of research of the penitentiary system of Ukraine, since it is the methodology in scientific sources that is interpreted differently.

Therefore, the methodology of the study of the penitentiary system of Ukraine is carried out by us using general philosophical, general scientific and special legal methods. The combination of different types and levels of methods in the scientific research made it possible to objectively and comprehensively highlight certain aspects of the problems of the penitentiary system of Ukraine in the state mechanism of socialization, resocialization and reintegration of convicts in places of imprisonment of the State Criminal Enforcement Service of Ukraine.

Therefore, the understanding of various research methods of the penitentiary system of Ukraine is extremely necessary for future applicants and postgraduate students. After all, for them, knowledge of research methods is a guarantee of quality scientific research of the research subject.

The author’s definition of the methodology of the study of the penitentiary system of Ukraine is formulated – it is a pluralistic system of scientific knowledge about the order and conditions of execution/serving of punishment through the use of general scientific, special scientific and individual preventive methods, which can ensure the completeness of the objective penitentiary analysis of the studied subject.

Key words: methodology, toolkit, penitentiary system, research, problems, cognition, places of imprisonment, State Criminal Enforcement Service, punishment, personnel.