The legal psychologist in his practice is faced with various phenomena occurring in the field of human-law interaction. If forensic psychology considers only the phenomena and processes that occur during legal proceedings, then the lion's share of useful material is found both before and after the courts.
The modern penal system is undergoing a difficult period of reform. The world practice of the transition from performing punitive functions to re-education methods involuntarily touched the prison systems of all countries of the post-Soviet space. The effectiveness of the new approach to the practice of the execution of sentences requires additional investment from the state. In the current conditions of a progressing crisis, there is no reason to hope for any additional financial injections. And no expenses of financial resources can play the role assigned to them without appropriate staff training and the development of an appropriate psychological base.
Penitentiary psychology is a section of legal psychology, its function is to study the relevant aspects of the effectiveness of both different types of punishment and the behavior of convicts, and, importantly, their communities. This science is constantly being improved and supplemented. The process of reforming the penitentiary system makes constant additions to the daily practice of current prison staff . In addition, prison psychology deals with processes that go beyond the work of penal institutions. The re-socialization and rehabilitation of persons at this stage plays no less important role than the process of punishment.
As its object, prison psychology selects people who are within the boundaries of institutions designed to serve their sentences. Conducting a psychological analysis of the effectiveness of the means applied to them, the methods of preventive and corrective action can increase the effectiveness of new ways of working with persons serving sentences.
The problems and difficulties of working in this area have become acute not only at the present time. Since the inception of the state, there have been many approaches and ways to solve them. Over the past hundred years, there has been a significant rethinking and reevaluation of them.
The main function is still punitive. Its meaning lies in the fact that the convicted person is isolated from society, he is kept under guard and constant supervision. All life activities of prisoners are under compulsory regulation. Accordingly, this causes a whole range of negative experiences, as there is a powerful limitation in satisfying a number of basic social and physiological needs.
If we consider the upbringing function that the regime as a whole and penitentiary psychology in particular perform, we can single out the strict organization of life and life of prisoners. The daily routine, clear regulation of the conditions under which the sentence is being served, leaves its mark on the behavior and character of people. Among the positive effects should be noted the gradual development of such qualities as discipline, accuracy, diligence.
The creation of favorable conditions for the organization of labor, educational work, training, and the full-fledged activity of personnel consists of the supporting function of the regime. But as soon as a person leaves the institution of serving a sentence, a relapse effect may occur. It is on the prevention of such a negative phenomenon that both psychologists and staff of the penitentiary system are currently working on. But their efforts are often not enough. To obtain better results in solving this problem, close cooperation with local authorities, employment organizations and social welfare of poorly protected persons is necessary.