The relevance of the problem and the ongoing scientific debate are due to the fact that the study of the issue of the legal nature of the criminal institute involves analysis of various aspects of its legislative regulation and law enforcement. The philosophical law stating that the essence is reflected in the manifestations (content) fully applies to the law as well; it is it (the legal essence) that determines the features of this or that block of legal provisions and their place in the system of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, and its identification is a condition of optimal legal regulation. Criminal law is, above all, a social tool; it is a specific way of implementing social norms and protection of social relations. The author proposes an original approach that allows revealing the nature of the said institute, considering the peculiarities of its regulation through the prism of social and legal prerequisites, as well as their respective grounds for enshrining provisions on exemption from criminal responsibility on non-rehabilitation grounds in the criminal legislation. In the discussion, the tone of which is set by scientists of Kazan University, different versions are proposed and scientific positions are substantiated; in general, as follows from the work, the question are non-repressive and non-punitive, specific measures of criminal impact.