V. I.

Lenin

The Prosecution of Minors [1]

Notes And Amendments to the Draft Decree

1) The theory of delimitation is no good .

2) Courts and prisons are corrupting .

3) Who knows the psychology of children? The judges or
expert opinion?

4) Special establishments?

5) Profiteers, etc.?

Recidive?

1) Instruct the Commissariat for Justice by arrangement with the
Commissariat for Public Health, the Commissariat for Education and the Central Statistical Board to draw up forms of report
for each case of juvenile delinquency.

2) Instruct the Commissariat for Education and the Commissariat for
Public Health to step up activities in the organisation of medical and
educational institutions for defective juveniles.

Instruct the Commissariat for Justice to exercise stricter supervision
over the membership of the juvenile commissions and the way they fulfil
their duties.

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Notes:
[1]
The draft decree on the prosecution of minors introduced by the
Commissariat for Education was discussed and endorsed with Lenin’s
Amendments at the meeting of the Council of People’s Commissars on March 4,
1920. The decree was published in Izvestia No. 51 for March 6
under the heading: “Cases of Juveniles Accused of Socially Dangerous
Acts”.