The article is focused on the penitentiary reform in Ukraine, which has been implementing by the Ministry of Justice since February 2016. Attention is focused on problematic issues of the reform, which can adversely affect the human rights situation within the penitentiary system. Attention is paid to the creation of prison inspection in Ukraine. Attention is also given to the investigation departments of the prison service, which had been established in December 2016 by the initiative of the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine.