Express analysis of traces and objects at a place of event by a forensic inspector: legal regulation and implementation practice

Abstract

The article reveals the specifics of the forensic inspector’s participation in the recovery and preliminary investigation the traces and objects at a place of event. On the basis of scientific works, it is determined that preliminary research should be understood as research that is express in nature, does not lead to any damage to the trace (trace-carrying object), is focused on obtaining information about the mechanism and conditions of the commission of the crime, the features and skills of the criminal, crime instruments, traces, identity of the criminal, etc. A preliminary investigation the traces and objects at a place of event precedes the expert investigation. Its content is the specialist’s evaluation of the detected traces in the form of judgments, their pre-expert study, including their suitability for solving identification and diagnostic issues during further forensic examination proceedings. The author substantiates the thesis about the effectiveness of the investigation the traces and objects at a place of event by a person who will conduct the appropriate forensic examination of the objects seized by him, and therefore be responsible for the quality of work with traces at the scene of the incident. The forensic inspector is not an employee of the expert service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, is not a certified forensic expert, cannot conduct a forensic examination or check objects according to the arrays of expert forensic accounting, does not bear any responsibility for the quality of the preliminary investigation of traces at a place of event. This requires amendments to the legislation that regulates the activities of the investigative units of the National Police and their interaction with the employees of the Expert Service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine.