Poles in the russian penal system and Siberia as a penal colony (1815-1914): a quantitative examination

Abstract

Die vorliegende Studie untersucht anhand (recht unzuverlässiger) kriminalstatistischer Unterlagen das russische Herrschaftssystem insbesondere im besetzten Polen. Die Daten zeigen generell, daß in Rußland und im besetzten Polen die jeweilige politische Situation einen entscheidenden Einfluß auf die Rechtsprechung und die Kriminalitätsraten hatte. Unter diesem dominanten politischen Einfluß entwickelte sich das System der 'Strafkolonien', ein im modernen Sinne außerrechtlicher Apparat von Bestrafung und Unterdrückung. Das halbfeudale zaristische Rußland konnte seine Herrschaft nur mittels dieses repressiven Systems behaupten. (pmb)

'This study concentrates on punishment as one of the crucial elements of Russian domestic policy, especially in the Polish territories under Russian occupation. The statistical approach is difficult especially since the quality of Russian statistics is so poor. Moreover, there was no meaningful relationship between the official data and reality. To understand this fact, we have provided general information about the principles of Russian material law and procedure and we have stressed the extra-judicial system of punishment and repression. The crime coefficients do not demonstrate any long-term growth. It is interesting, however, that they show a general downward tendency in offences against property especially as they demonstrated an opposite trend in cases of crimes against the state and against the person. In Russia and especially in Poland, the political situation had an important impact on the increase or decrease in crime, sentencing, and punishment rates. The coefficient of convicted persons was low, but there were widespread prosecutions outside of the official juridical procedure. Penal policy played a special role in regard to the practices of exile and katorga. The development of modern prisons came slowly. The death penalty was contained in the military code and it was often applied even on the civilian population. Whipping survived until 1824. Political repression played a tremendous role in the history of Russian penal policy.' (author's abstract)