Crime Investigation Research Articles

Особливості підготовки окремих видів судово-медичних експертиз

Abstract. The article analyzes the important aspects of conducting forensic medical examinations in the context of the investigation of criminal cases and other offenses. The author determines that according to the object of examination, forensic medical examination can be divided into the following types: forensic medical examination, forensic medical examination of living persons, forensic medical examination of material evidence. The article analyzes the processes associated with the examination of a corpse, including the extraction of various biological materials and their further analysis. The methods of determining the time of death, establishing the causes and circumstances of death, as well as identifying the corpse are also considered in detail. It has been established that the forensic medical examination of living persons is the most common type of examination. The article describes the purpose, task and procedure of forensic medical examinations for living persons, including the collection of biological samples for comparison, analysis of injuries and other signs of violence. It is emphasized that the forensic medical expert does not have the right to provide the legal qualification of the examined injuries in the report, this is the prerogative of the investigation and the court. The author demonstrates how such examinations can be used to investigate criminal offenses, establish patterns, and resolve legal issues. In addition, the article examines in detail the specifics of physical evidence examination, such as blood, saliva, semen, tissues, and other materials that may be important in the investigation of criminal offenses. Methods of collection, storage and analysis of such evidence are highlighted, as well as their role in solving criminal cases. Summarizing, the article reveals the key aspects of forensic medical examinations of a corpse, living persons and physical evidence, which are important for judicial practice and the investigation of offenses. It helps to understand the processes and methods used by experts to obtain objective and reliable information necessary for justice and the protection of public safety.

Efficient usage of web forensics, disk forensics and email forensics in successful investigation of cyber crime

Efficient usage of web forensics, disk forensics and email forensics in successful investigation of cyber crime

Unmanned Underwater Vehicles in Crime Detection and Prevention

The relevance of the research is determined by the need to develop effective methods and strategies for the use of modern technologies to ensure the security of marine and underwater facilities in the face of the growing threat of underwater activity, terrorism, and violations of laws at sea. The research aims to analyse and document specific tactical and organisational approaches to the use of unmanned underwater vehicles aimed at increasing the effectiveness of actions related to the detection, investigation, and prevention of underwater crime. Classification, analytical, functional, statistical, and synthesis methods are among the methods used. The research results highlight the global experience of using drones in forensic practice and may serve as a basis for further improvement of legislation in this area. The application of uninhabited underwater vehicles by law enforcement and state bodies in the investigation of criminal offences is considered in the article, and the norms of criminal procedural legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan regulating the use of technical means in criminal proceedings are analysed. The study reveals the lack of comprehensive research on the use of unmanned underwater vehicles as scientific and technical means for the investigation of certain types of criminal cases, such as drug-trafficking and poaching, and offers recommendations on their use to identify and search for evidence in the aquatic environment. This research has a practical value by providing new methodologies and strategies for organisations and law-enforcement agencies in the field of underwater security, contributing to more effective detection, investigation, and prevention of crime in the maritime and underwater domains.

FORENSIC EXAMINATIONS DURING THE INVESTIGATION OF CRIMINAL OFFENSES IN THE FIELD OF LAND USE, SUBSOIL PROTECTION, AND ATMOSPHERIC AIR

The study is devoted to typical forensic examinations during the investigation of criminal offenses in the field of land use, subsoil protection, atmospheric air. Taking into account the provisions of the current Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine, it is possible to distinguish three procedural forms of the use of special knowledge that can be used in the investigation of criminal offenses against the environment: independent use of special knowledge by the investigator; participation in criminal proceedings of a specialist; examination. It is noted that forensic examination is the most effective means of performing investigative tasks in proceedings on criminal offenses in the field of land use, subsoil protection, atmospheric air, provided strict compliance with the requirements of criminal procedural legislation, regarding the appointment and conduct of this investigative (search) action. It is emphasized that expertise in the mentioned proceedings should be appointed only in the case when there is a real need for it, when without an expert’s answer to certain questions it is impossible to establish the circumstances of a criminal offense. The analysis of the researchers’ theoretical work and the study of investigative and judicial practice materials made it possible to identify the following main types of expertise that are carried out during investigations in the field of land use, subsoil protection, atmospheric air: ecological, forensic chemical, forensic expertise on land management, soil science, construction and technical technical, technological, toxicological, construction-technical, agro-technical, forestry, forensic-medical, medical-sanitary, forensic-veterinary. It was also concluded that during the investigation of the specified illegal acts, other types of forensic examinations may be appointed, including, in particular, engineering and technical, biological, dactyloscopic, handwriting, technical and forensic examination of documents, evaluation and land, forensic and material science examination of oil products, lubricants, fuel and lubricant materials, examination of computer equipment and software products, etc. Arguments are given that depending on the needs of the investigation, the specified types of forensic examinations can be assigned both at the initial and at the next stage of the investigation.

PROSPECTIVE DIRECTIONS FOR THE FORMATION OF THE STRUCTURE OF THE METHODS OF INVESTIGATING SELF-INTERESTED AND VIOLENT CRIMES COMMITED BY MINORS

Concepts and structural elements of the forensic method of crime investigation are considered. The role of operational investigative support in criminal proceedings is shown and a conclusion about the need to include it as a separate element in the structure of crime investigation methodology is made. It is proposed to include a list of the following structural elements in the investigation methodology of self-interested and violent crimes committed by minors: forensic classification and characteristics of crimes; identification of signs of a criminal offense and circumstances to be established at the primary stage of the investigation; typical investigative situations, versions and investigation planning; peculiarities of conducting investigative (search) actions and tactical operations; organizational and tactical features of the interaction of the investigator with the operational units during the operational and detective support of covert investigative (search) actions (discovery of evidentiary information, overcoming opposition to the investigation, ensuring the protection and safety of persons participating in criminal proceedings, searching for wanted persons); coordination activities of law enforcement agencies with state bodies, organizations, public associations and mass media regarding the prevention of criminal offenses. It was emphasized that the operational investigative support of criminal proceedings plays an important role when overcoming opposition to the investigation and organizing the safety of court and law enforcement officials, persons who provide assistance, contribute to investigative activities, persons participating in criminal proceedings, and their family members and close relatives of these persons. It was concluded that separate methods of investigating self-interested and violent crimes committed by minors should be formed taking into account their classification. At the same time, it is worth focusing attention on those categories of self-interested and violent crimes that are most often committed by minors. To do this, it is necessary to analyze the judicial and investigative practice and find out what problems arise during their investigation. The formation of separate methods of investigating self-interested and violent crimes should be based on the information established in the basic method. During the development of separate methods of investigation of self-interested and violent crimes committed by minors, it is necessary to use the forensic classification of the specified crimes not only according to the criminal law criterion, but also according to the criminalistic one.

PROBLEMATIC ASPECTS IN THE INVESTIGATION OF WAR CRIMES

This article examines the problematic aspects that arise during the investigation of war crimes, focusing on identifying the main challenges and developing recommendations to overcome them. It analyzes the difficulties faced by investigative bodies in collecting evidence, the legal and procedural barriers that complicate the investigation and prosecution of perpetrators. Special attention is given to the role of international law and the cooperation of interstate organizations in improving the effectiveness of investigations. As a result of the research, specific recommendations are proposed to enhance the quality of war crime investigations and strengthen the rule of law at the international level. The research on this topic analyzes the works of scholars such as I. Hlovyuk, V. Zavtur, N. Lashchuk, V. Navrotskaya, M. Pashkovsky, R. Serkevich, N. Ustritskaya, and others. Greater attention is paid to current legislative acts and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. The issue of exchanging prisoners of war in Ukraine is regulated by various normative legal acts, including the ICC RS and the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine (CPCU). The appendix to Article 3 of the CPCU establishes that a person who has the procedural status of a suspect, accused, or convicted can be exchanged as a prisoner of war. Amendments to the CPCU regarding the interrogation of persons for whom a decision on exchange has been made do not contain substantive additions or clarifications, which may lead to inappropriate application of these provisions. Although the CPCU does not contain a separate norm regarding the procedural status of prisoners of war, the legislator has made changes to regulate the exchange of persons during martial law, which became possible thanks to the law dated July 28, 2022. Despite the legislator’s attempts to improve the procedure for exchanging prisoners of war, some aspects remain complex, which may violate the principle of legality and the rule of law. Ukraine, even without being a state party to the ICC RS, is obliged to cooperate with this international body in accordance with Article 12(3) of this statute. The presence of implementing legislation that regulates national cooperation procedures is a prerequisite for the comprehensive fulfilment of Ukraine’s obligations to the ICC. Better definition of the statuses of participants in criminal proceedings, particularly those for whom the ICC’s request for co-operation has been received, as well as the regulatory establishment of the status of prisoners of war, is needed. Ukrainian prosecutors and pre-trial investigation bodies should adhere to the specifics provided by the ICC Rules of Evidence when conducting interrogations of witnesses, suspects, and victims. Failure to take appropriate actions during interrogations may lead to the recognition of interrogation protocols as inadmissible evidence, which will reduce the number of high-quality evidence on the part of the prosecution.

Advanced Volatile Memory Forensics through Autopsy Integration

The main goal of this study is to design a novel plugin for the Autopsy forensic framework to enable forensic analysts to identify and extract volatile memory from small-scale digital devices. This includes network peripherals and Internet of Things devices, smartphones, and industrial-control systems. Given the importance of volatile memory to digital crime and cybersecurity investigations, an accurate and reliable tool is needed to non-destructively acquire forensic copies of the evidence. In the context of small-scale devices, this study is of acute importance to bridge the gap that exists in current forensic research and forensic practice, using separate tools can be challenging due to compatibility issues and the complexity of managing multiple system. In conclusion, the developed Autopsy plugin, which has been termed the MemoryIntegrator, seamlessly harmonizes with Autopsy forensic framework and is designed to work together with Volatility tool, specializing in detailed memory analysis. Consequently, the following main outcomes result from the experimentation and application of the plugin: Promotes the default forensic activity of Autopsy by providing the analysts with a way to swiftly and directly harvest and evaluate volatile data from diverse small scale digital devices. The implementation of the plugin ensures that the integrity of the memory data is maintained throughout the extraction and analysis process. This is facilitated by cryptographic hash validations that confirm that there are no changes in the data from the extraction to the point of analysis. The plugin maintains the integrity of the memory data from the time of extraction to the time of analysis using cryptographic hash validations which verifies that these data has not been manipulated at this point. MemoryIntegrator outmatched all the forensic tools herewith because conducting forensic test back at home verified its superiority in terms of the extraction of data from memory speed and the authenticity and formula which it uses in analysis. In the modern world, this is critical to investigate digital crimes and incidences that affect cybersecurity.

Power of Forensic Evidence in Solving Crimes

Forensic laws and evidence are important part of modern crime investigation. The remains of criminals or the pieces of evidence collected at crime scenes by investigators help in identifying the criminals and solving cases. This article holds the importance of forensics and forensic investigation to help the investigators reach the point with 100% verifications. Forensic evidence covers DNA Analysis, fingerprint analysis, and other various forms of digital analysis. This article along with its importance also highlights the limitations of forensic analysis during investigations and by taking the improvement steps for criminal identification.

Use of digital data from open sources during the investigation of criminal offenses: certain aspects

Use of digital data from open sources during the investigation of criminal offenses: certain aspects

Judicial Review of the Authority to Investigate Financial Crimes after the Constitutional Court Decision Number 59/PUU-XXI/2023: Comparison of Indonesia, Australia, Japan and Germany

Financial crime refers to all illegal actions carried out by individuals or groups with the aim of obtaining financial gain. In facing this challenge, it is important for policy makers and legal practitioners to continue to carry out in-depth reviews of the authority to investigate financial crime. This research aims to examine the authority in investigating financial crime after the Constitutional Court Decision Number 59/PUU-XXI/2023 through a comparison between Indonesia, Australia, Japan and Germany. The method used in this research uses a conceptual approach and a comparative approach with normative research types. The research results show that the authority to investigate financial crime after the Constitutional Court decision Number 59/PUU-XXI/2023 has experienced significant changes in Indonesia. In Indonesia, the Constitutional Court decision Number 59/PUU-XXI/2023 regulates that investigators must be under the control and supervision of the National Police. This decision confirms the position of the National Police as an institution that has the authority to supervise and control the financial crime investigation process. This is expected to increase effectiveness and efficiency in law enforcement in the financial sector, as well as ensuring that the investigation process is carried out in a transparent and accountable manner. In comparison, in Australia, financial crime investigative powers are managed by several agencies, including the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). Japan has a Financial Services Agency (FSA) and a National Police Agency (NPA) which coordinate the investigation of financial crimes. Meanwhile, in Germany, the authority to investigate financial crimes falls under the Bundeskriminalamt (BKA) and financial supervisory institutions such as BaFin. This comparison shows that each country has a different approach in regulating the authority to investigate financial crime. In Indonesia, the confirmation of control and supervision by the National Police is expected to increase cooperation between law enforcement agencies and strengthen efforts to eradicate financial crime.

The Barnahus model: an example of innovative evolution in favour of children’s rights in the investigation of criminal offences

The Barnahus model: an example of innovative evolution in favour of children’s rights in the investigation of criminal offences

Use of modern criminalistics innovations in the investigation of military crimes

Use of modern criminalistics innovations in the investigation of military crimes

Understanding sexual homicide in Korea using machine learning algorithms.

The current study was conducted to confirm the characteristics in sexual homicide and to explore variables that effectively differentiate sexual homicide and nonsexual homicide. Further, newer methods that have received attention in criminology, such as the machine learning method, were used to explore the ideal algorithm for classifying sexual homicide and patterns for sexual homicide in Korea. To do this, 542 homicide cases were analyzed utilizing eight algorithms, and the classification performance of each algorithm was analyzed along with the importance of variables. The results of the analysis revealed that the Naive Bayes, K-Nearest Neighbors, and RF algorithms demonstrate good classification accuracy, and generally, factors such as relationships, marriage, planning, personal weapons, and overkill were identified as crucial variables that distinguish sexual homicide in Korea. In addition, the crime scene information of the crime occurring in the dark (at night) and body disposal were found to have high importance. The current study proposes ways to enhance the efficacy of crime investigation and advance the research on sexual homicides in Korea through a more scientific understanding of sexual homicide that has not been thoroughly explored domestically.

Improving the Advice Given to Investigators by Criminal Profilers

In the UK, Behavioural Investigative Advisors (BIAs) contribute to serious crime investigations by offering profiles of unknown offenders, a process known as criminal profiling. BIAs tend to include the rationale behind their opinions in the profiling reports they produce, but often fail to provide adequate support for their reasoning (e.g., references to published research, which supports their claim). BIA reports generally meet quality assurance criteria and are regularly peer-reviewed by other BIAs who provide constructive feedback on the report. The reports are also perceived as being useful. BIAs should articulate exactly what they used to support their opinions and reporting guidelines and templates should be put in place to encourage high quality, standardized report writing.

Forensic identification and its role in the investigation of poaching-related crimes

Forensic identification and its role in the investigation of poaching-related crimes

The ICC jurisdiction in Ukraine: challenges and opportunities in the fight against impunity

This article examines the legal relationship between the International Criminal Court (ICC) and Ukraine, a non-party to the Rome Statute, focusing on the scope of the Court's jurisdiction to consider Ukraine's referrals regarding serious crimes committed on its territory since 2014. Discussions regarding the extension of the ICC's jurisdiction over Ukraine commenced in 2014-2015 following Ukraine's two requests for recognition of the ICC's ad hoc jurisdiction. Following the full-scale invasion in 2022, the ICC consolidated these proceedings with the ongoing investigation of crimes committed in Ukraine since 2014. This article analyzes how the ICC's jurisdiction applies to Ukraine, the challenges and prospects for cooperation between the ICC and Ukraine in investigating crimes committed by Russian forces, and the broader implications for the international criminal justice system. The authors analyze arguments for and against Ukraine's ratification of the Rome Statute, concluding that the ICC's jurisdictional framework, particularly concerning the crime of aggression, requires refinement.

The Implementation of Scientific Crime Investigation Mechanisms in Police Regional Office Proof Criminal Cases

The Implementation of Scientific Crime Investigation Mechanisms in Police Regional Office Proof Criminal Cases

TNI AL Authority as Maritime Crime Investigator in Securing Indonesian Waters

TNI AL Authority as Maritime Crime Investigator in Securing Indonesian Waters

Content analysis of press releases from the Norwegian serious fraud office: what do the messages say about focal concerns?

PurposeThis article reviews 69 press releases published by the Norwegian Økokrim from June 2022 to November 2023. The presented research applies the theory of focal concerns to identify the main themes in the press releases.Design/methodology/approachSerious fraud offices such as the Norwegian national authority for investigation and prosecution of economic and environmental crime (Økokrim) are facing many challenges when combating white-collar and corporate crime. Press releases represent an element of facing such challenges, as the messages are an important vehicle for the organization to disclose organizational activities to the public.FindingsThree themes emerged: offender conviction, impression management and crime deterrence. Offender prosecution followed by offender conviction is at the core of Økokrim's business. Impression management serves the purpose of emphasizing the important role of the national authority in society. The subjective perception of detection and prosecution by potential offenders can be influenced by crime deterrence messages.Research limitations/implicationsPress releases are signals that may be interpreted in other ways.Practical implicationsWhen politicians are to review national authorities, they may want a slightly different serious fraud office.Social implicationsThe deterrence effect is often not real for alleged white-collar crime.Originality/valueUnderstanding a national authority in terms of its focal concerns based on press releases from the authority.

Проверка сообщений о преступлениях, связанных с лесными пожарами

The investigation of crimes associated with forest fires is a critical endeavor aimed at determining the causative factors preceding the commencement of criminal proceedings. Key aspects under scrutiny encompass the origin of the forest fire, extent of its propagation, magnitude of material damage incurred, employed technical means and methodologies for fire suppression, and identification of individuals present within the boundaries of the forested area where ignition occurred. The investigative protocol entails a comprehensive array of measures including on-site inspection of the forest fire locus, testimonies elicited from eyewitnesses and lessees of forested parcels, procurement and scrutiny of documents sourced from meteorological services, territorial forest protection authorities, and commissioning of judicial expertise. Additionally, the judicious utilization of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in fire scene reconnaissance is advocated for its intrinsic safety benefits to operational personnel. Moreover, the significance of satellite-derived imagery depicting pre- and post-fire forested terrain conditions is underscored for facilitating causal inference regarding forest fire occurrences. In conclusion, the investigation of crimes associated with forest fires embodies a symbiotic interplay between scientific inquiry and legal scrutiny, wherein the convergence of empirical evidence and jurisprudential deliberation serves as the linchpin of investigative integrity and judicial recourse. Moving forward, continued investment in research and technological development is imperative to augment the efficacy and expediency of forest fire investigations, thereby fortifying societal resilience against the perils of environmental degradation and criminal malfeasance.