The article conducts a comprehensive theoretical and practical analysis of the institution of suspended sentence (conditional conviction) in the Russian Federation as one of the key instruments for implementing the criminal law policy of the Russian Federation. The work examines the grounds and criteria for applying a suspended sentence. Particular attention is paid to the normative content of the duties imposed by the court on a conditionally convicted person, their significance for achieving the purposes of punishment and ensuring the person’s resocialization. Based on an analysis of statistical data for 2022–2024, the article substantiates the trend of a decreasing share of suspended sentences and the need for further improvement of the legal regulation of this institution. It also formulates specific proposals for reforming a number of provisions of Articles 73, 74 and 88 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.