Abstract
In this paper we show how purely second-class constrained systems preserving in a certain fashion the reducibility relic of a k-th–order reducible first-class system can be quantized in the BRST framework based on path integral. The procedure relies on the quantization of a (k + 1)-th–order reducible first-class system constructed from the original one such that their path integrals be equal. The case of massive Abelian three-form gauge fields is briefly exemplified.