Execution of Criminal Penalties and Issues of Convict Resocialization: Contemporary Challenges in Kazakhstan
Keywords: criminal executive system, penitentiary policy, execution of punishments, resocialization of convicts, probation institute, employment, prison subculture, recidivism
This scientific and theoretical article presents a comprehensive analysis of the current state of
the penal system of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the context of global trends in penitentiary policy.
The authors investigate in detail the transformation process of the domestic model of punishment
execution from the Soviet paradigm of «correction by labor» to international standards of
resocialization and probation. Particular attention is paid to the analysis of the law enforcement
practice of the Criminal Executive Code of 2014, the effectiveness of the probation institution, the
problems of employment of convicts through the RSE «Enbek» system, as well as issues of medical
support following the transfer of functions to the Ministry of Health. Based on extensive empirical
material, statistical data, and sociological research, systemic contradictions between legislative goals
and actual conditions of serving sentences are identified. Issues of countering prison subculture,
preventing religious extremism in places of detention, and the prospects for implementing cell-based
detention are considered. The article contains scientifically grounded recommendations for improving
legislation and law enforcement practice in order to minimize recidivism.