8 May – Day of the Operational Worker of the Penal Enforcement System of Russia

Today, workers of the operational units of the Penal Enforcement System (UIS) are celebrating their holiday. This structure traces its history back to 1925, when the secret department of the Joint State Political Directorate was entrusted with secret-operational work in political isolators. However, the official day of the creation of the operational units of the UIS is considered to be 8 May 1935.

Currently, an independent structural unit — the operational department — works within the composition of the Federal Penitentiary Service. It ensures the personal safety of prisoners and the staff of correctional institutions, and is also engaged in the investigation and prevention of crimes in places of serving sentences. Operational workers of the UIS are also involved in searching for criminals who have escaped or are evading punishment.

As the leadership of the Federal Penitentiary Service notes, during the period of reforming the penal enforcement system within the framework of the concept of its development until 2020, a special role belongs precisely to the operational units, which work in difficult conditions and perform complex tasks related to ensuring legality and law and order in correctional institutions.