GRANTING PRIVILEGES TO PRISONERS IN THE PENOLOGICAL PRACTICE OF THE REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA

Abstract

The author of the paper addresses a very important
institute in the process of re-socialization of prisoners - the
granting of privileges to prisoners. Privileges of prisoners are
incentives that motivate prisoners to actively engage in their own
rehabilitation. The basic function of privileges is to stimulate
inmates to a disciplinary and responsible behavior, and exemplary
efforts in work and other rehabilitative activities during the
serving of their sentence. In this article the author specifically
focuses on international standards and regulations in the Republic
of Macedonia concerning the conditions and procedure for
granting privileges to prisoners. In a separate chapter the author
analyzes a number of granted privileges to prisoners in the
Republic of Macedonia in the period between 2008 and 2012, and
their subsequent abuse. The author concludes that our penological
practice regarding privileges of prisoners has a positive attitude,
because it is a very suitable method for dealing with inmates.
When deciding to grant privileges to prisoners the prescribed
criteria for granting should be respected. Also, prisoners should
clearly acknowledge that their active involvement in the process of
their own re-socialization will pay off; they will be granted
privileges because of their positive behavior. On the other hand,
selective granting of privileges to prisoners can have the opposite
effect.