Concern for the Science: Pages from the “Leningrad” History of the Institute

The relevance of the research topic on the historical aspects of the organization of scientific research in jurisprudence is due to the growing need for a deep understanding of the evolution of legal systems and practices underlying current legal awareness. The purpose of the study is to formulate the organizational structures and features of the scientific activities of the State Institute for the Study of Crime and the Criminal under the NKVD of the RSFSR (now the Institute of Legislation and Comparative Law under the Government of the Russian Federation) in cooperation with Leningrad institutions and specialists during the period under review, which allows not only to reconstruct the history of the development of criminal law, penitentiary and military law but also to identify effective working methods applied in these areas. This, in turn, makes it possible to more critically assess the current state of legal science and its practical application, as well as to put forward sound proposals for improving the legal system and increasing its effectiveness. The article used a historical method that allowed tracing the chronology of the establishment and functionung of the Institute, as well as its impact on criminal policy and criminological research in the USSR. This method became the basis for understanding the evolution of the Institute in the context of historical events. Archival materials, resolutions and orders concerning the organization and activities of the Institute and its branches were used. The comparative method was used to compare the work of the Leningrad branch of the Institute with other similar institutions, which made it possible to identify unique aspects of its activities and working methods, as well as to assess its place in the system of scientific and practical research. The study of scientific publications and reports prepared by the Institute’s staff made it possible to assess their contribution to legal science and identify the main directions of their research. The content analysis of scientific research topics allowed us to identify the main areas of work and current scientific problems of the time period under consideration. In the process, the Institute has become an important center for studying the causes of crime, as well as for developing methods of correctional labor. The Leningrad branch of the Institute actively participated in criminological research, conducted lectures and organized courses for law enforcement officers. Despite the changes in the structure and management of the Institute, its work has left a noticeable mark in the scientific and practical field of legal science. The legacy of the Institute’s “Leningrad” history continues to influence the modern understanding of legal science in Russia.