Abstract: The article considers the question of participation of the Prisons Custody Society in the process of correction of the convicted persons. The author characterises the major fields of concern of the Society which laid the foundation for the formation of the institution of public control over the reinforcement of rights of persons residing in the places of forced imprisonment; penitentiary medicine; organisation of education and labour in detention places; penitentiary legislation, etc. The Society actively engaged in implementing various innovations: 1) prison premises were subject to reconstruction: big windows were installed in order to provide larger fresh air intake in cells and corridors, the cell doors were furnished with small folding windows, pavements were laid in the prison yards; 2) the members of the Soceity themselves accomodated the prisoners by their age, type of crime and degree of culpability; 3) works were organised for the prisoners: workshops on cardboard craft, binding, woodwork, etc. were launched; 4) churches were built in prisons, equipped with praying rooms; 5) special uniform was introduced for the prisoners to facilitate their recognition in case of prison break; 6) asylums for prisoners' children were organised. The Prisons Custody Society at the time played a significant role in establishment and further development of the institution of peer pressure as a means of correction of convicted persons.