The topic of the presented research is the features of the subject of crime under Part 4, Art. 210 and Art. 210.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (person occupying the highest position in the criminal hierarchy). The research is based on the analysis of all guilty verdicts that entered into force and are executed by the institutions of the penal system under Part 4, Art. 210 of the CC of the RF and Art. 210.1 of the CC of the RF. The goal of the research consisted in identifying the currently relevant characteristics of criminal leaders, which are supported by the law enforcement materials rather than sociological studies, i.e. the characteristics of persons occupying the highest positions in the criminal hierarchy de-jure, and not de-facto. The research used the methods of analysis, synthesis, the formal legal method, and the statistical method. As a result, the author identified the currently relevant characteristics of persons occupying the highest positions in the criminal hierarchy, and pointed out how they changed due to the transformations of the criminal subculture's norms. The obtained results can be used when studying ( teaching) the discipline << Criminal Subculture >>, in the practical work of bodies of investigation when qualifying crimes under Part 4, Art. 210 of the CC of the RF and Art. 210.1 of the CC of the RF, and in the practice of penitentiary institutions to prevent crimes among persons on preventive registration for being leaders and active participants of dangerous groups. It is concluded that the criminological characteristics of a person occupying the highest position in the criminal hierarchy have undergone considerable changes: certain features that were taboo in the past (having a family, children, official residence registration, military service registration, official job, etc.) are no longer relevant.
