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Abstract
The paper presents the author’s stance on the problem of restructuring forensic services in Ukraine, particularly regarding their centralization.
The author highlights the fallacy of certain reformers' viewpoints by providing historical insight into the abortive attempts to establish extra-departmental forensic services in the Soviet Union, as well as in independent Ukraine. The paper supports the perspective that the current structure of forensic services should be retained and further improved.
By establishing a robust quality assurance system in compliance with international standards, installing the latest equipment and software, and applying modern methods, forensic laboratories have managed to minimize bias and the risk of errors. These measures have strengthened stakeholders’ trust in the results of forensic examinations, regardless of the departmental affiliation of the laboratories conducting them.
The continuous improvement of legislation regulating the activity of the Forensic Service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) of Ukraine has ensured its independence from its MIA-affiliated commissioning parties: detectives and investigators. This improved procedural legislation regarding forensic examiners' rights and the chain of custody ensures that examiners are truly independent and free from any undue pressures or influences that may adversely affect the quality of their work.
The author warns of the possible disadvantages of centralizing forensic services, such as a lack of motivation for improvement and development. This, in turn, would discredit the results of forensic examinations in the eyes of the involved parties, who would be denied the opportunity to obtain independent reviews from other forensic laboratories (which contravenes the adversarial principle of court proceedings).
Summarizing the aforementioned points, the author concludes that the most efficient way to enhance the quality of forensic services is to further improve the currently efficient existing system.
References
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