Suits on the zone. Zonovskie concepts. Prison laws

In modern society, it is not customary to divide people into any groups, estates and castes. However, this rule does not apply to places of deprivation of liberty, where for many decades there has been a strict classification of convicts into peculiar groups (or, as they say in the zone, suits).

Prison suits

The suits in the zone are the division of all prisoners into peculiar groups that differ from each other in prison status, rights and concepts.

Absolutely in any prison and colony there is a clear distinction between all prisoners in certain groups or suits: “thieves”, “men”, “goats” and “roosters”. There are also so-called intermediate groups, which vary depending on the specific place of deprivation of liberty. Such “intermediate” castes include “cocks”, “lowered”, “offended” and others.

The suits in the zone are rather closed groups, and it is almost impossible to move from one caste to another.

"Authorities" of the zone

The most significant, important and honorable suit in the zone are “thieves”. This caste is the smallest, and to get into it just does not work. So, who is “thieves”?

“Thieves” is a real, almost unlimited power in the zone. It is the members of this group who establish unwritten rules of conduct in places of deprivation of liberty, monitor the order in the zone, solve conflict situations that arise between prisoners, and punish the “guilty” in all severity of the prison law.

A special group of “thieves” are the so-called thieves in law. These are recognized criminal authorities. Moreover, they do not have to trade in theft. A thief in law is a person who has an impeccable criminal reputation, the right concepts, and clearly complies with thieves' laws.

If you answer the question of who is “thieves”, then we can say that this is an authority that behaves “correctly” not only in the zone, but also did not have any “shoals” at large. For example, “thieves” should not serve in the army; in the wild, they should not have held senior positions or work in the service sector (taxi drivers, waiters). In Soviet times, such authorities were forbidden to have a family and be a member of any political party.

The most important

The leader of the "thieves" is the "godfather" - a recognized criminal authority. If there is no such person in the zone, then a “looker” is appointed - a prisoner who performs the functions of a leader.

"Pahan" and his entourage (that is, "thieves") have special privileges in the zone. They may not work, leave to themselves from the "common fund" everything that they consider necessary.

In the modern world, many “thieves” in the zone interact with the administration of the correctional institution and establish those orders that are beneficial to the colony leadership. Instead, “thieves” create comfortable conditions of detention (they secretly receive alcohol, anasha, telephones and other benefits). Although this does not correspond to thieves' concepts, market relations now prevail in the zone.

Who is a "man"?

“Guys” is perhaps the largest and most neutral group of prisoners. Its number includes prisoners who received a term for committing minor crimes. As a rule, these are absolutely random people in prison: once in the zone, they try to free themselves as soon as possible and return to normal life in the wild.

The specified suit in the zone has no authority. "Guys" do not take part in the showdown, do not have voting rights and do not interfere in the affairs of "thieves." They do not cooperate with the prison administration, but they do not serve the authorities of the zone.

Among the “peasants” there are, of course, such prisoners who are respected by “thieves” and even listen to their opinion.

This group of prisoners is considered neutral and quite large. And if we talk about who this “man” is, this is a prisoner who, at the end of his term, will forget everything as a “nightmare” and will try not to return to the zone anymore.

"Goats" is ...

If it is honorable to belong to the two suits described above, then getting into the “goats” caste means putting yourself up against the rest of the prisoners. As a rule, those prisoners who, of their own free will (and in some cases by force) began to cooperate with the administration of the correctional institution, are referred to this suit.

So, if a prisoner agreed to take the position of a prison librarian or supply manager, then he automatically fell into the cast of “goats”. Convicts belonging to this suit actively cooperate with the prison authorities, carrying out all their instructions. In this regard, the remaining prisoners treat them as traitors.

Such a situation deprives the "goats" of the right to participate in prison squabbles, they are not allowed to "common fund", they do not have the right to vote. Meanwhile, you can say hello to representatives of this suit, you can touch them and you can communicate with them, if you wish.

You will not wish the enemy

The suits on the zone are unchanged. You cannot go from a lower caste to a more authoritative one. So, the "goat" will never become a "man" or "thieves." But you can get into the lowest caste.

A suit like a rooster is a real nightmare for a prisoner. To the prisoners who fell into this caste, living in the zone, to put it mildly, is not easy. This group of prisoners is also called “offended”, “omitted”, “untouchable”. This suit includes passive homosexuals and prisoners who are punished by having sex with them. Moreover, the sexual intercourse itself may not exist: a prisoner can simply be held by the sexual organ on the lips, and from now on he will be considered a “rooster”.

Representatives of this suit are outcasts: you can’t touch them, you can’t take anything from them. "Roosters" use separate dishes, have a separate berth (as a rule, at the entrance to the cell). It’s not customary to talk to them. The "Roosters" are forbidden to approach the other prisoners closer than three steps. It is they who do the dirtiest work in prison - they clean the outhouses, wash the parade ground.

However, when “roosters” are “consumed” (that is what is commonly said in the zone), this is not considered to be any defilement contact.

There is also an ominous “tradition” - to make holes in plates, spoons and mugs of “cocks”. In order for a convict belonging to this caste to eat or drink, it is necessary to plug holes with fingers. And this is the most harmless humiliation of those who are subjected to "cocks."

Prison laws are very strict and cruel. Therefore, the slightest deviation from the established norms of behavior inevitably leads to punishment. So, having become a “rooster” once, a person is deprived of the right to human relations in prison and is humiliated before the end of his term. Not everyone can withstand this, so many prisoners who fall into the cast of “cocks” end their lives by suicide.

Sometimes it happens

The above suits are available in all zones and prisons. However, in some places of deprivation of liberty there are specific, so-called intermediate castes.

Especially a lot of such castes in the area where juvenile delinquents are kept. On the "youngster", in addition to the castes already indicated, there are such suits as:

• “Foresams”, which includes prisoners who have committed some minor misconduct in the zone due to ignorance of the rules and norms of behavior;
• "Devils" - that is, those prisoners who were convicted of theft from their fellow inmates;
• “Snails” that act as servants;
• “Laundresses”, “oil chippers”, “lacking men” and others.

In some adult areas, peculiar podcasts are common. For example, "paid", which includes prisoners who make up the "retinue" "thieves" (while they themselves are not thieves). Or a caste of "villains", which includes "thieves" prisoners who have committed some heinous act.

To live "according to concepts"

Whatever suit the prisoner refers to, he is obliged to observe zonovye concepts. Concepts are established norms of behavior of a prisoner in places of deprivation of liberty. Strict adherence to these unwritten rules helps to avoid situations of conflict, and sometimes even life-threatening ones.

Prison laws (or concepts) are very similar to the norms of life in freedom. The paradox is that often prisoners who violated the law in the wild (for example, stole), in places of deprivation of liberty strictly adhere to the rule "do not steal."

The main zoning concepts come down to the following: do not “knock” and do not steal from your own (that is, from the same prisoners), do not let “say a word” (if you threatened someone, you must punish; otherwise, they will punish you for chatter) .

It is impossible to interfere in other people's affairs and conversations in the zone, to impose one’s opinion, lie and swear (since there is much more demand for any spoken word in prison than in freedom).

Do not be greedy in prisons: it is customary to share with fellow inmates. Well, of course, you should not put yourself above the rest, because this can lead to terrible consequences.

Strange norms

In some areas there are quite strange laws. This is especially true for colonies in which juvenile offenders are held. For example, you can’t lift anything off the floor, you can’t smoke a cigarette for prisoners who are members of lower prison castes.

There are such prisons in which they can only lower them because the prisoner went to the toilet and did not wash his hands or darned his socks.

There are also such colonies in which it is customary to wash in a bath with two washcloths - one to the waist, the second - for everything else. A towel, which is commonly called a “waffle”, is considered a “checkered towel” in the area. And he will not say much good to that prisoner who does not know this rule.

The zone is red. Black Zone

According to their colors, not only the prisoners themselves are divided, but also the places of their detention. All zones are divided into “black” and “red”.

"Reds" are those prisons in which tough "cop" concepts prevail. In such prisons, the interaction of prisoners with the administration of the correctional institution is strongly encouraged. Life here proceeds according to the rules of the zone’s leadership.

“Black” prisons (which are the majority in Russia) are those correctional institutions in which everything is built on thieves' concepts and prison laws. Here the suits in the zone are of great importance. Collaborate with the administration of such a colony is considered "zapadlo".

In the “black” zones of the prisoners who “knock” the leadership, they are referred to the “goats” caste (they are also called “red”). "Red" in the zone will never be able to live in peace, as for all other prisoners it will cause hatred and will be considered a traitor.

In the end

For many decades, clear and strict rules and standards of behavior of prisoners have been formed in prisons. Violation of the established rules leads prisoners to punishment, which, most often, consists of transferring them to the lowest prison caste.

And if for an ordinary law-abiding citizen such a punishment seems childish, then for the inhabitants of the zone it is the most severe and severe punishment. After all, a safe and calm serving of a term directly depends on what suit the prisoner belongs to.

Despite the fact that modern society and worldview has introduced many innovations in prison life, there are things that still remain unchanged - these are prison castes (suits), thieves' laws and concepts.