IN ORDER TO PREVENT OFFENSES, THE SOVIET UNION HAS SEARCHED FOR NEW FORMS OF JOINT ACTIVITIES BETWEEN THE STATE AND PUBLIC ORGANIZATIONS. METHODS OF PREVENTION OF CRIME INCLUDE INDIRECT INFLUENCES BY THE IMPROVEMENT OF ECONOMIC CONDITIONS, AND MORE CONCRETE TECHNIQUES SUCH AS THE SUPERVISION OF PERSONS PRONE TO CRIME. THE MILITIA AND THE PUBLIC ORDER SQUADS WORK IN CLOSE CONTACT WITH TEENAGERS AND THEIR PARENTS. IF NECESSARY, REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PUBLIC ESTABLISH PATRONAGE OVER OFFENDERS. PERSONS WITH CRIMINAL RECORDS ARE PLACED UNDER THE SURVEILLANCE OF THE DIVISIONAL MILITIA INSPECTOR WHEN REQUIRED BY LAW. THE MILITIA'S CRIMINAL SERVICE IS COMPOSED OF EXPERTS IN THE PREVENTION AND DETECTION OF CRIMES. THE STRUCTURE OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IS DISCUSSED. PERSONS CHARGED WITH CRIMES MAY DO CORRECTIVE LABOR, SUFFER A WAGE DEDUCTION, OR RECEIVE A SUSPENDED SENTENCE. FIRST OFFENDERS OR PERSONS WHO DO NOT REPRESENT A THREAT TO THE PUBLIC MAY BE ASSIGNED TO SPECIAL WORK SITES, ACCOMPANIED BY THEIR FAMILIES. SUCH PERSONS MAY RECEIVE WAGES WHILE WORKING UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE MINISTRY OF THE INTERIOR. SEVERE PUNISHMENT MAY STILL BE ORDERED FOR SERIOUS OFFENSES, WITH THE MAXIMUM PENALTY BEING EXECUTION FOR SUCH CRIMES AS MURDER UNDER AGGRAVATED CIRCUMSTANCES. THE LONGEST TERM OF IMPRISONMENT IS 15 YEARS. CRIME IS NOT CONSIDERED TO BE A PERMANENT FEATURE OF LIFE IN HUMAN SOCIETY; RATHER, IT IS FELT THAT SOCIETY IS CAPABLE OF REDUCING THE PHENOMENON OF CRIME. (TWK)