нквд, пенитенциарная система, места заключения, исправительно-трудо- вые учреждения, кадры, западная сибирь, рсфср, личный состав, nkvd, penal system, penitentiaries, correctional institutions, personnel, western siberia, the rsfsr, Law

The aim of the article is on the basis of archival documents, legal acts, prior published sources to study the problems of staffing the jails of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (Western Siberia taken as an example). The article reflects the results of historical and legal research. The author identifies the main characteristics of the personnel of correctional institutions, the problems of staffing, the reasons for the high demand of staff and low quality of the employed staff. Measures taken by the Main Directorate of penitentiaries of the RSFSR NKVD and local authorities aimed at improving the situation with personnel in penitentiaries are of particular interest.