The necessity of regulation of the definition “detailed description of the studies in the expert’s conclusion”

Abstract

The article deals with the problem of interpretation of the normatively fixed definition “detailed description of the studies in the expert’s conclusion”, which (that is, conclusion) is a source of evidence in the procedural law of Ukraine. There are presented the views of forensic scientists, the international standards adopted in Ukraine are analyzed, the ILAC G19: 08/2014 “Modules in a Forensic Science Process” guidelines, the draft of fifth part of the ISO 21043 standard “Reporting” regarding the content of this definition. It is stated that “the detailed description of the studies in the expert’s conclusion” is based on the dialectical-materialistic method, methods of formal logic, general scientific methods, methods of maternal sciences and special methods, that is, methodologies of conducting forensic examinations. A parallel is drawn with the latter as with normative documents that should regulate the process of description in the research part of the conclusion. Based on the obtained results of the analysis, it was concluded that in the forensic examination methodology, as a detailed program for solving an expert assignment, in the section that regulates the procedure for formalizing the research conducted by an expert conclusion, the procedure for a detailed description of the research should be determined, which allows for interpretation the results obtained (assessment of the results of the studies carried out and the formulation of conclusions) by others who did not conduct an examination, by qualified specialists having the appropriate competence to confirm the reliability of the results and formulated answers to the questions posed, including by reproducing and/or repeating the process of producing the examination. In order to solve the problem raised, it is necessary to develop the state standard of Ukraine – DSTU XXXX: 202__ “Forensic expert activity. Forensic examination methodologies. Requirements”, in which to determine, inter alia, the content of the definition “detailed description of the studies in the expert’s conclusion”.