From Crime to Re-Education: Activity of the Caucasian Society of Agricultural Correctional Facilities for Juvenile Criminals at the End of the 19th Century
Epifanov A.E. From crime to re-education: activity of the Caucasian Society of Agricultural Correctional Facilities for Juvenile Criminals at the end of the 19th century. Penitentiary Science, 2026, vol. 20, no. 1 (73), pp. 4–11. doi 10.46741/2686-9764.2026.73.1.001.
the article is devoted to activities of the Caucasian Society of Agricultural
Correctional Facilities for Juvenile Criminals in the late 19th and early 20th centuries engaged in
solving the problem of child crime in the region. The article considers historical and socio-economic
conditions that contributed to the growth of youth crime, as well as analyzes the efforts the society
took to correct juvenile offenders. Special attention is paid to the organization and functioning of
juvenile correctional facilities. The article describes detention conditions, methods of teaching crafts
and moral education, as well as interaction with children’s families. The author touches upon the
problems the Society faced, including those related to a lack of funding and qualified personnel, as
well as insufficient infrastructure. It is emphasized that solving these problems required an integrated
approach and efforts on the part of the state, society and the family. Purpose: to study activities
of Russian pre-revolutionary correctional institutions on the example of the Caucasian Society of
Agricultural Correctional Facilities for Juvenile Criminals at the end of the 19th century. Methods:
legal, analytical, descriptive, historical and comparative, as well as the method of deconstruction.
Results: the study showed that the Caucasian Society of Agricultural Correctional Facilities
for Juvenile Criminals has created a unique model of work with juvenile offenders based on an
integrated approach. Conclusions: the analysis shows that the Society’s experience demonstrates
effectiveness of a humane approach to the re-education of juvenile offenders. A comprehensive
system of education, vocational training and moral re-education made it possible to successfully
rehabilitate difficult teenagers. Despite objective difficulties, the pre-revolutionary Society laid
foundations of a modern social rehabilitation system for juvenile offenders.
Keywords: Caucasus; child crime; juvenile delinquents; correctional institutions; juvenile correctional facility; social rehabilitation; moral education.
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