Russian Llaw and International Standards of Pre-Trial Proceedings in Criminal Cases Against Minors

Abstract

Pre-trial proceedings in criminal cases against minors are conducted according to general rules established by law. At the same time, international statutes set out special requirements aimed at the comprehensive protection of the rights and lawful interests of the above-mentioned category of people. Their comparison allowed the authors to identify a number of discrepancies and draw conclusions regarding the key aspects of improving Russian criminal procedure legislation regulating the pre-trial proceedings against minors. Pre-trial investigation against minors should only be conducted in the form of preliminary inquiry. Besides, all of its stages should provide conditions for the correction of juvenile delinquents, including the stage of pre-trial investigation. Organizations working outside the scope of criminal proceedings, including NGOs and human rights groups, should work with minors and correct their behavior irrespective of the process and results of pre-trial investigation and court proceedings. The law should include the provision for the confidentiality of information about the underage suspect and accused. In particular, the law should state that no information regarding the underage suspect or accused can be made public, even if this information will in the future result in court proceedings during a closed hearing. Before the case is referred to the court, the investigator or detective should decide if it is possible to terminate the criminal case (criminal prosecution) against the accused minor. Besides, the criminal case (criminal prosecution) can be terminated both on special grounds if coercive measures are taken against such a person, or on other grounds stated by law and applicable to adults.