Freedom on schedule: new rules for monitoring those released on parole have been fixed in Russia

Russia has clarified the procedure for monitoring the behavior of persons released on parole. The Penal Enforcement Code has been supplemented with new articles that establish mechanisms for monitoring such citizens and the responsibilities of the bodies exercising control. Now the relevant norms are directly spelled out in the legislation, whereas previously they were mainly regulated by by-laws. For more information on how the practice of applying parole will change, see the Izvestia article.

The control was fixed in the Penal Code.

Federal Law No. 19-FZ of February 11, 2026 supplements Chapter 22 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation with new articles 183.1–183.3. They establish the procedure for monitoring persons released on parole.

According to the new regulations, control over civilians is carried out by the Criminal Enforcement Inspectorate (CII), and over military personnel by the command of military units. These authorities will keep personal records of those released on parole throughout the remaining unserved part of the sentence.

The released persons are obliged to observe public order, perform duties assigned by the court, undergo prescribed medical measures and report to the inspection for registration.

Photo: IZVESTIA/Anna Selina

According to Irina Hrytsenko, a lawyer at the Legal Policy Bar Association, such mechanisms have already been used in practice, but now they are enshrined directly in the code.

— The Federal Law supplements the Penal Enforcement Code with new articles that actually establish the procedure for monitoring the behavior of persons released on parole. Of course, in practice, it was these bodies that previously carried out appropriate control, but now this mechanism is more formally fixed directly in the PECS of the Russian Federation," the expert explained.

Personal accounting and mandatory registration

One of the key innovations is the mandatory maintenance of personal records of those released on parole. Inspections should record human behavior and monitor the implementation of all restrictions imposed by the court. In addition, the law clarifies the obligation to register.

— A person released on parole must report to the penitentiary inspectorate for registration and comply with the restrictions established by the court. If the frequency of appearance has not been determined by the court, the inspection itself has the right to establish it," Hrytsenko noted.

Photo: RIA Novosti/Ilya Pitalev

According to her, such changes create a more formalized system of monitoring the released.

Warning and cancellation of parole

The law also establishes a clear procedure for responding to violations. If a person does not perform the duties assigned to him, the inspection must first issue a written warning. If violations recur after this, the inspectorate sends a submission to the court to cancel the parole. In fact, a three-stage response model is being consolidated.

— The law establishes a consistent system: the recording of violations, a written warning and, in case of repeated violations, sending a submission to the court for the cancellation of parole. This allows us to formalize the procedure and record violations before a court decision is rendered," Irina Hrytsenko emphasized.

Photo: IZVESTIA/Dmitry Korotaev

Separately, the law specifies the concept of malicious evasion of duties. It means a repeated violation after a written warning.

— The law explicitly defines that malicious evasion is repeated failure to perform duties after a written warning from the inspection. In practice, most often we are talking about failure to appear at the penitentiary inspectorate for registration or violation of restrictions established by the court," Hrytsenko explained.

The document also sets out the deadlines after which a person can be considered hiding from control. For civilians, this is 30 days of absence from their location, for military personnel — 48 hours.

Will the changes affect the rate of recurrence

The expert believes that the new rules strengthen the procedural control over those released, but their impact on the level of repeat crimes may be limited.

— The new rules really strengthen control, as they establish a clearer procedure for responding to violations. However, the impact on the rate of recidivism is likely to be moderate, since much depends on a person's social adaptation after release," the lawyer noted.

Photo: IZVESTIA/Pavel Volkov

At the same time, according to her, an important result of the reform will be the creation of a more transparent legal framework.

— A positive effect is the formation of a clearer and more unified system of legal regulation. This is important not only for the state, but also for the protection of the rights of the released themselves," the expert added.

The law will enter into force 180 days after its official publication. During this time, the Ministry of Justice must approve the procedure for monitoring the behavior of persons released on parole by penal enforcement inspections.