IMPLEMENTATION OF A POST-PENITENTIARY PATRONAGE OF MINORS IN THE ХІХth – EARLY ХХth CENTURY

The level of crime, including recidivism, remains high today. This fact proves the need to optimize the implementation of a patronage of people released from penal institutions. In this context, exploring the origins of a post-penitentiary patronage, in particular its implementation for juvenile is important for the effectiveness of social work with this category of clients. The article analyzes the experience of different countries, methods of a patronage of persons, released from juvenile penitentiary. It is established that in relation to adults, released from prisons, the patronage based on the principle of voluntariness, but the patronage of minors was mandatory. In the early ХІХth century some organizations began to take over the functions of a post-penitentiary minors’ patronage. Legally, this process began secured mainly from the 1850s. A post-penitentiary patronage of minors existed in the forms of 1) a guardianship of the penitentiary, 2) a guardianship of special patronage or other charitable societies. A patronage society usually took care of both adults and young clients, but there were those which concerned only the youth (male and female). Among the methods the return to his own family, able to raise a child, moral and material support, a placement into shelters, refferals to the skilled craftsmen (artisans, landowners) to study or to work, a promoting emigration to the colonies and other methods were practiced. In England, Holland, France and other countries, many young people were sent to the army or navy. The process of aid was controlled by the designated patrons. Most juvenile offenders were taken care of societies, which specialized on the other categories of «difficult» children – orphans, homeless, beggars, neglected and so on. The term of a patronage lasted about three years. Examples of some organizations show that patronage activities in relation to minors was quite effective. Promising areas of the research are a track of changes in minor crime statistics of that period, especially recurrent crimes, under the influence of patronage societies, methods of a patronage by specialized organizations and its effectiveness