PHENOMENON LEGAL NIHILISM IN RUSSIAN SOCIETY AND CITIZENS' READINESS TO EXTRA METHOD OF RESOLVING CRIMINAL CONFLICT Smirnov Alexander Mikhailovich, PhD at Law, associate professor. <...> Place of employment: Research Institute of Federal Penitentiary Service. -mail: vipnauka@list.ru; Annotation: Presents a scientific discussion about the phenomenon of legal nihilism in Russia as factors determining the non-judicial means of resolving conflicts criminal citizens, leading among which is mob justice. <...> According to the research framework reasons of legal nihilism in Russia are: low level of legal citizens and its deformation; legal illiteracy; almost traditional neglect and abuse of the right of not only ordinary citizens, but also representatives of the authorities; own desire to deal with the tortfeasor; fanatical religiosity. <...> Substantiates the danger of the spread of vigilante justice in Russia to build it in a civilized legal state with a developed civil society. <...> In view of this proposed prevention of this phenomenon, the most important of which are: education strict compliance with the legal requirements in all circumstances of life, habits runningaway seek help in the resolution of conflicts in criminal law enforcement. .. <...> Buklova Z.K. Consciousness in the modern information society: peculiarities of formation and development // «BХКМФ СoХОs» ТЧ ЭСО RЮssТКЧ ХОРТsХКЭТoЧ. 2010. № 5. 4. <...> Walicki A. Morality and Law in theories of Russian liberals the late XIX – early XX centuries // Problems of PhiХosopСв, 1991. № 8. 5. <...> Gulin O.R. phenomenon of nihilism in the sense of justice of the Russian people // URL: http://www.irex.ru/ press/pub/polemika/10/gul, (date accessed 21.05.2014). 8. <...> Gyske A.V. Modern Russian crime and security problems of society ( political analysis ). <...> Kashapov W.A. Legal views PY Chaadaeva and prominent representatives of the Slavophile // Herald VEGU, 1999. № 9. 11. <...> Principles of State Policy of the Russian Federation in the sphere of legal literacy and legal awareness of citiгОЧs // RossТвsФКвК GКгОЭК. 2011. № 151. 18. <...> Smirnov A.M. Characteristics of the criminal law protection of persons with criminal sexual inversions from discriminatory practices in foreign countries // Gaps in RussТКЧ ХОРТsХКЭТoЧ. 2011. № 4. 21. <...> Согласно рамок исследования причинами правового нигилизма для России являются: низкий уровень правосознания граждан и его деформация: правовая безграмотность; практически <...>