Expert Techniques and Their Validation: Concepts and Criteria, Some Terminological Inconsistencies

Abstract

The state of methodological support for forensic examinations requires an improvement. For these purposes, the author proposes a validation procedure for scientific and methodological support of forensic examination, the main provisions of which are set out in the “Regulations on the validation (assessment of the suitability) of techniques in forensic activity”, developed in the Russian Federal Centre of Forensic Science of the Russian Ministry of Justice. Despite the undeniable importance of this document, the author notes several issues, resolution of which will contribute both to its effective practical implementation and organic integration of the main provisions of validation into forensic science. The article considers the main terminological inconsistencies of forensic expertology and regulatory legal documents regulating the validation procedure. Forensic expert techniques’ concept, structure, and functions are analyzed; the author also proposes the evaluation criteria.