Abstract
<jats:p>Employees of the penal correction system must possess not only professional skills but also spiritual and moral values. In this respect, mentoring seems to be an effective pedagogical tool, yet it remains largely understudied. This study identifies the specifics, structure, functions, methods, forms, and assessment criteria of mentoring activities in education institutions of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia. It identifies the concept of spiritual and moral values of cadets, taking into account the penitentiary system environment. The refined definition relies on a comprehensive review of scientific publications and legal acts. The article proposes a targeted plan of educational work aimed at developing spiritual and moral values, supplemented with reliable and effective methods, forms, and diagnostic tools. In this context, mentoring includes professional-adaptive, organizational-coordinating, and spiritual-moral activities. Mentors contribute to the development of spiritual and moral values in future employees of the penal correction system, providing them with professional skills that meet the requirements of the domestic penitentiary system.</jats:p>