REFORM OF THE CRIMINAL-EXECUTIVE SYSTEM OF UKRAINE

Abstract

The article presents a comprehensive scientific and legal study of the reform of Ukraine’s criminal-executive system under conditions of martial law and European integration. It is substantiated that the current transformation of penitentiary policy is driven by a shift from a punitive-repressive model toward a humanistic system focused on protecting human rights, resocializing convicted persons, and reducing recidivism The regulatory foundations of the criminal-executive system are analyzed, including constitutional principles, criminal-executive legislation, probation legislation, and strategic state policy acts in the field of execution of sentences. Systemic obstacles to the implementation of reforms are identified, including institutional inertia, resource constraints, managerial dysfunctions, and inconsistencies between practice and international standards for the treatment of persons deprived of liberty. Particular attention is paid to the digital transformation of the penitentiary system to increase transparency, administrative efficiency, and safeguards for human rights in places of detention. It is emphasized that reforming the criminal-executive system is interdisciplinary and requires a combination of legal, organizational, and socio-managerial approaches. It is proven that the sustainable development of the penitentiary sector is possible only by raising staff professional standards, strengthening mechanisms of public oversight, implementing anticorruption measures, and expanding alternative forms of punishment. The penitentiary reform is proposed as part of a broader transformation of the justice sector aimed at strengthening the rule of law, respect for human dignity, and Ukraine’s integration into the European legal space. The necessity of a systemic combination of institutional renewal, implementation of European penitentiary standards, and technological modernization is substantiated. It is concluded that the effectiveness of reforms depends on the consistency between legislative changes and their practical application, adequate resource support, and the formation of a long-term state strategy for the humanization of the execution of sentences.