Destiny of life sentenced prisoners was a subject of roundtable "Lifelong sentence."

On June 3, 2015 in the Central Office of the State Penitentiary Service of Ukraine held the expert roundtable "Lifelong sentence". The event was organized by the State Penitentiary Service of Ukraine and the NGO "Kharkiv Human Rights Group", supported by Council of Europe Office in Ukraine. On 12 May, 2015 the Ukrainian Parliament has adopted in the first reading Draft Law on Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of Ukraine on replacing life imprisonment with more lenient punishment. The expert roundtable was attended by representatives of civil society and international organizations, scientists, employees of state authorities, personnel of SPtS of Ukraine and its territorial bodies. From Ukrainian Interdenominational Christian Mission "Spiritual and charitable care in prisons" the event has been attended by Fr. Constantin Panteley, Mission Secretary, Head of the UGCC Office for Pastoral Care in Penitentiary System of Ukraine.

Discussion of the problem was carried out in several ways:

• how are those sentenced to life in prison dangerous?
• how can these prisoners to challenge unjust sentences?
• whether these prisoners could ever become a part of society?
• what is mechanism which pardon application and the subsequent parole and
• which institutions must act to rehabilitate and adapt former lifers?

At the round table discussed topical issues related to the life imprisonment:

- bringing the conditions of life imprisonment with international standards;

- aspects of practical implementation of international prison standards in Ukraine;
- features of the social and psychological work with convicted to life imprisonment et cetera.

Trere were in prisons 1508 persons sentenced to life imprisonment, and another 440 lifers were in institutions on the occupied territory of Donbas, as of May 1, 2015. According to researches, 34% of people serving life sentences had not been ever punished for criminal acts befor. It is believed that tere are tens people among lifers, who had received unjust verdicts. But on the other hand we must understand the great responsibility in the matter  of lifers. They were sentenced for the murder of 3055 people, of which 36% - women, 11% - the elderly, 8% - minors.
74% of sentenced to life imprisonment are aged 18 - 34,
18% - aged 40 - 49,
6% - 50 - 59,
1% - over 60 years.

The speakers of the round table were:
- Dirk van Zyl Smit, Professor of Comparative and International Penal Law at the University of Nottingham. 
- Latif HÜSEYNOV, member of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment,
- Vadim Chovgan, representative of the European Union Advisory Mission to Ukraine, civil security sector reform in Ukraine, an expert of the NGO "Kharkiv Human Rights Group."

Natalia Maximova, Doctor of Psychology, presented the results of a survey conducted to study public opinion on issues related to the punishment of life imprisonment from 18 to 29 May 2015. According to the survey:

• 98% of respondents said they did not have confidence to the judicial system in Ukraine,
• the majority of respondents consider it necessary to apply for a pardon act for life with the change to a more lenient punishment to give them a chance of parole.

Being asked about life imprisonment as a higher punishment for committing offenses which should be used as  -  - respondents answered:
81.1% - for genocide,
64.7% - for a terrorist act,
21.2% - for the use of weapons of mass destruction,
58.2% - for the murder of three or more people.

During speeches at the discussion, Constantin Panteley praised the recently adopted law # 2292, which affects the destiny of life sentenced prisoners. But he noted that major changes would have to apply the possibility for lifers to challenge unjust sentences and seek a new trial. The Criminal Jastice System itself requires changes. Serious cases of criminal process must be conducted with the participation of lay judges or jury. Besides, Penitentiary System suffered significant personnel losses following the pension reform. Current students of the Institute of Criminal-Executive Service do not link their careers to serving in the Penitentiary System due to social insecurity and low wages. Therefore, the improvement of situation of prisoners could only be associated with a responsible attitude to employees of the state penitentiary sphere working in difficult conditions and implement socially important service. In one of the conclusion statements, Fr. Constantin expressed the demand to provide prison facilities where detained lifers by special rooms for confidential meetings with a priest. Life prisoners are the most difficult category of prisoners.

On October 23, 2014 in Rome, His Holiness Pope Francis met with delegates of the International Association of Criminal Law. The Pope expressed the view that life imprisonment is "hidden death." For this reason, it has recently been removed from the Criminal Code Vatican. Finally, sentenced to life in prison is to have a chance to return to society as a result of a pardon.

Photos of Yana Baranova.