Criminal procedure of a specialist in the Republic of Lithuania in the context of international cooperation

Abstract

The article discusses the concept of “special knowledge,” its use in the process of detection and investigation of crimes, as well as some problematic issues of the specialist’s activities both in the framework of the Criminal Procedure Code of the Republic of Lithuania and in the aspect of international cooperation. According to the author of the article, one of the most important activities of representatives of, first of all, the European forensic community at the present stage is the work on bringing together the paradigms of various national forensic schools. This paper takes a new look at the specialist’s activities both in the framework of the Code of Criminal Procedure of the Republic of Lithuania and in the aspect of international cooperation. At the present level of the development of science, not a single country, let alone as small as Lithuania, can avoid close international cooperation with other entities. This also applies to forensics, which develops recommendations, techniques and means of disclosing, investigating and preventing crimes, which should lead to improving public safety. Cooperation in this area is carried out at various levels. International cooperation of academic centers and non-governmental forensic organizations seems to have significant potential in this area. The Lithuanian Forensic Society is focused on strengthening international cooperation in the field of criminalistics and forensic expertise. To achieve this goal the international symposiums “Forensics and forensic expertology: science, training, practice” are organized, which have become not only a platform for the exchange of scientific research results and best practices, but also a place where you can find partners for further research. The article provides a brief historical overview of the changes in the position, functions, rights and obligations of a specialist in criminal procedure in the Republic of Lithuania. Some disputable aspects of the status of a specialist in the current Code of Criminal Procedure of Lithuania are emphasized as well.