Workers of the Penal System of the Ministry of Justice of Russia Day is observed in Russia every March 12. This professional holiday was officially established by Presidential Decree to honor the workers of the Russian penal system. The date commemorates the issuance of a decree by Emperor Alexander II on March 12, 1879, which established the prison department and laid the groundwork for a unified state penitentiary system. After years under the Department of Internal Affairs, the penal system was reformed and transitioned to the Ministry of Justice in 1998, leading to the creation of the Federal Penitentiary Service. Currently, over 340,000 individuals, including 257,000 certified employees, work within this service and celebrate their contributions on this day.