The article is devoted to the identification of ways to solve socio-economic problems of rural territories and territorial formations on which penitentiary system institutions are located. The authors provide an analysis of rural territories of Perm Krai and reveal the results of demographic processes and accompanying causal relations. The possibility of solving employment problems of previously convicted people and repleshiment of labor resources shortage by this was offered. The mutual benefit of such cooperation was demonstrated for the administrations of these institutions and municipalities, expressed in increasing the economic potential of institutions and territories and reducing social tensions in these territories in the process of solving socio - economic contradictions. The need to assess the institutions” economic potential and the level of social tension was established. The considered problem’s relevance for any rural territory of our country where the penitentiary system institutions are located makes the authors-proposed approach interesting from the practical application point of view to specialists in the field of state and municipal administration, agriculture in economic development as federal bodies, public authorities, subjects of the Russian Federation and local governments.