Previously convicted people are involved in every third crime in Russia – Kolokoltsev

Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev spoke on Wednesday at a joint meeting of the board of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Federal Penitentiary Service. This was announced by the official representative of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Irina Volk.

The head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs noted that the number of criminal offenses solved with the participation of employees of the penitentiary system has increased. In 2021, more than 40 thousand of them were recorded. Criminal cases were initiated against 150 people under a new article of the Criminal Code – “occupying a higher position in the criminal hierarchy.” Also, with the assistance of the Federal Penitentiary Service, more than 1,300 escaped criminals were detained in 2021 and the first half of 2022. Kolokoltsev noted that previously convicted citizens have become less likely to commit crimes: over 10 years, the number of criminal offenses committed by convicted persons has decreased by 20%. However, every third crime in the country is still on the conscience of those previously convicted.