The article analyzes scientific, reference literature and norms of current legislation in defining notion and signs of penal bodies and institutions administrative activity. Attention is paid to determining administrative activity of law enforcement authorities. The complex of theoretical and practical aspects implemented by penal bodies and institutions during their administrative activity is researched. The author focuses on studying the concept of administrative activity. Particular attention is paid to the ratio of administrative activity and public administration and the influence of administrative reform on current state of administrative activity. It has been determined that all the types of administrative activities of penal bodies and institutions are regulated by current legislation and sectoral norms and are therefore carried out by the authorized entities in strict accordance with administrative procedures and proceedings.With the help of formal and logical and also comparative and legal methods, signs of penal bodies and institutions administrative activity are revealed. It is clarified that the signs of administrative activity are practically universal, they can be applied to the characteristics of the activity of any of the subjects of executive power. But there are other signs that will be different for different bodies, as there is a specific list of administrative functions performed by them. Special relevance is predetermined by theoretical and practical significance of legal and organizational issues of penal bodies and institutions in the context of the Penitentiary System of Ukraine reforming.The concept of administrative activity is formulated: it is a complex of managerial, jurisdictional, administrative and supervisory actions and measures carried out by authorized officials of penal bodies and institutions in administrative and legal forms, and using administrative and legal methods aimed at ensuring making tasks in the field of execution of sentences.The main features of administrative activity in penal bodies and institutions are its state and power, sub-law, law-making, law enforcement, organizational, preventive character; interconnection with management in the field of criminal penalties executing; application of administrative and legal forms and means.Key words: penal bodies and institutions, law enforcement bodies, administrative activity, signs of administrative activity of the administration. REFERENCES

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