Organization of Cultural and Educational Work in Russian Penitentiary Institutions in the First Half of the 20th Century

The article considers educational work with persons held in correctional labor institutions in the 30s of the XX century as a kind of ‘reforging’ process. It is noted that the special attention paid to the elimination of illiteracy among the population of the civil society of the RSFSR in the period under review was also typical for places of deprivation of liberty. The connection of cultural and educational work inside the camp as an element of the system of correctional labor impact on campers, along with their political and general education, with vocational training, and in the future, involvement in labor activities, is emphasized.