INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH COOPERATION IS EFFECTIVE MECHANISM FOR FORENSIC SCIENCE IMPROVEMENT

The article reveals the content of international research cooperation of science forensic institutions of Ukraine other countries across the world. One of the main areas of work of forensic science institutions of Ukraine is compliance with European standards for forensic examinations and forensic researches. Because of this current trend at the present stage is to expand participation of forensic science institutions in international cooperation, increase their role in the further development of theory and practice of forensic science and criminalistics. It is concluded that improvement of forensic activity in Ukraine and international cooperation in the field of expert support of justice is one of the leading activities of National Scientific Center «Hon. Prof. M. S. Bokarius Forensic Science Institute» of the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine. The international agreements/memoranda with the partner institutions of NSC « Hon. Prof. M. S. Bokarius FSI» are indicated, in which provisions the main strategic directions of research cooperation in the field of forensic science and criminalistics are determined. It is concluded that in-depth research of problematic aspects of forensic practice, use of the latest and most advanced technology in conducting forensic examinations and forensic researches is the guarantee for to improving efficiency of forensic science institutions of Ukraine and in the near future will open new horizons for forensic science and criminalistics.

CRIMINAL LIABILITY FOR CRIMES AGAINST NATIONAL SECURITY

This research paper analyzes the current Legislation of Ukraine in the field of criminal liability for crimes against national security. It is noted that prevention of this type of crime is one of priorities of criminal law policy that aims to preserve national sovereignty and its independence proclaimed by the Constitution of Ukraine, as well as ensuring its economic and information security are the most important functions of the state. Scientific achievements of leading scientists in the field of criminal liability, crimes against national security are analyzed. Their work part changes or additions to relevant provisions of the Criminal Code of Ukraine has been studied. General scientific (dialectical, systemic) and specific scientific methods became research methods. Dialectical method made it possible to determine the general state and prospects of research on the legal regulation of criminal liability for crimes against national security. Using the system method that was used in the research process, system of legislation of the outlined issue is determined. While analysis of current regulations in force in Ukraine in the field of criminal liability for crimes against national security formal and legal methods were used. Definition by the Basic Law of the country of the most important functions of the state of the issue of protection of sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine ensures this research relevance. Due to the threat posed by aggression in the east, that began in 2014, the crime rate is gaining momentum. The need for enhanced state control and the introduction of effective mechanisms, in terms of strengthening criminal liability for planned crimes is becoming urgent.

CRIME COUNTERACTION WITHIN THE SCOPE OF NETWORK APPROACH

Network management is a relatively new concept, which, nevertheless, has taken its place in the field of science and practice of crime counteraction management. In connection with recognition of the place and role of networks in implementing management activity, a number of theoretical questions on redefining the role of state, legitimacy of network structures, trust to new forms of interaction within the state, private sector, nonprofit organizations and associations of citizens arise. The issue of state sovereignty, legitimacy and trust in the context of management problems are studied not only by political scientists, but also by criminologists who conduct research on the problems of improving the policy of crime counteraction. The majority of autonomous, independent and not subordinate to each other entities are involved, each of whom solves his task in this common problem by his own means and methods in accordance with corresponding legislation. However, no matter how independent and autonomous the participants in crime counteraction are, their division is unacceptable since each of them is only one part of the common state and legal system aimed at ensuring resolution of a single task in crime counteraction. Each of them, no matter how it works, is not able to address the issue of crime idependently, only by his own means. They only complement each other, and therefore their activity, undoubtedly, require organization, management, coherence, interaction, coordination. And one of the ways to organize the system of accomplishment of set tasks is network management. The peculiarities of the latter are that a certain part of crime counteraction happens primarily on a procedural basis, and law enforcement agencies are procedurally independent and autonomous (this excludes any authroitative forms of management). Therefore, network management is implemented only on the basis of equality of all its elements, independence of each of them when performing tasks, responsibility for their realization and compliance with law.

CONCEPT AND SYSTEM OF IMPACT MUNITIONS USED IN LAW ENFORCEMENT

This article examines importance of impact munition based on new conceptual ideas related to humanization of forms and methods of law enforcement. It is emphasized that in implementation of public safety and the order of law enforcement agencies should meet requirements of the rule of law whereby human, his rights and freedoms are recognized as the highest values and determine the content and direction of the state and its legal institutions. It is emphasized that use of specific means contributes to implementation of this principle by creating opportunities to avoid injuries and casualties by law enforcement officers, ordinary citizens and among offenders directly. It is noted that specific means should be considered as protection means and separated from non-lethal weapons. Definition of specific protection means is given. The system of specialized protective equipment is considered because of a conceptual position: specialized protective equipment of law enforcement agencies is a basic concept and consists of subsystems that have their own structure. Place of specialized protective equipment in the system of specialized machinery of law enforcement agencies is determined. System of specialized protective equipment of and branches of these means are structured considering purpose of special means and tactical and technical features of their application in law enforcement activity.

INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE IN ANTI-THEFT OF CATALYTIC CONVERTERS INSTALLED IN CARS.

Recently, there has been increase in the number of property crimes in the world, including theft of external car parts. The number of thefts of catalytic converters installed in cars of various brands has sharply increased due to a significant increase in the value of precious metals such as platinum, palladium and rhodium. The reason for a sharp increase in the number of crimes of this particular car part is small amounts of the mentioned precious metals in the catalytic convertors. The purpose of this article is to consider this problem faced by law enforcement and legislative bodies in many countries and to propose certain ways for its solution. The article provides an overview of the situation with thefts of catalytic converters in the countries of the European Union, the United States and Israel. Detailed reasons for the occurrence of this problem are provided, as well as measures to protect a car from the theft are suggested. Possible legislative and investigative-forensic actions to prevent this type of crime are considered: - law enforcement agencies investigating this type of crime should clearly understand that we are not talking about isolated, unrelated cases, but about well-planned actions of criminal groups. - increase in control over purchase and sale of metal carried out without accounting and corresponding documentation and amendments to the administrative procedural code also require strengthening. - applying a special forensic marking on parts, including on a catalytic converter, will allow to track its location and provide full information to law enforcement agencies from which vehicle it was stolen in the event of its theft. - inspection and examination by a forensic expert of vehicles and other physical evidence left by criminals at crime scenes for criminals’ fingerprints and DNA profiles will help to significantly increase the detection rate of this type of crime.

LEGAL REGULATION OF CRIMINAL LIABILITY FOR CRIMES AGAINS THE ENVIRONMENT

The article analyzes the current legislation of Ukraine in the field of criminal liability crimes against the environment. The paper analyzes the current legislation of Ukraine in the field of criminal liability for crimes against the environment. Special attention is paid to the importance of enhancing criminal liability to ensure provided by the Constitution of Ukraine as a fundamental law and guarantor of constitutional rights and freedoms of a person and citizen, for the crimes against the environment and to compensate for the damage caused by the violation of this right. Research methods were general scientific and (dialectical, systematic), and special scientific methods. The use of dialectical method allowed to determine the general state and research prospects of issues on legal regulation of criminal liability for crimes against the environment. The systematic method was used in the process of studying the system of legislation in the outlined issue. Regarding the special method, the formal legal method was chosen, according to which the analysis of the current legislation of acts of Ukraine in the field of criminal liability for committing crimes in the field of the environment is carried out. Today, one of the global problems is climate change due to increasing industrial pollution (excessive concentration of environmentally hazardous industries, outdated and inefficient environmental equipment, unreliable technical systems and lack of qualified personnel in enterprises with high environmental risk), a significant number of vehicles, that do not meet environmental standards, and other factors that pollute the environment. All of these are significant threats to the global economy and international security due to increased direct and indirect risks related to energy security, food and drinking water supply, stable ecosystems, and risks to human health and life.

GENDER IMBALANCE IN THE FIELD OF PROVIDING FORENSIC SERVICES FOR JUSTICE: CURRENT SITUATION IN UKRAINE AND INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE

The article is dedicated to the issue of gender inequality in general, and in particular in the field of forensic expert support of justice, including the problem of vertical segregation of labor in leadership positions in state specialized institutions of Ukraine. The article outlines possible reasons for the existence of gender imbalance in the form of vertical segregation of labor in leadership positions in the field of employment and in the field of forensic expert support of justice, as well as examples of gender inequality manifestations. An analysis of previous researches of distinguished women scientists and representatives of civil society institutions as to the problem of gender imbalance in the field of education, professional self-determination and career growth has been carried out. A specific focus is drawn to particular manifestations of gender imbalance in science. At the same time, the analysis of legal regulations of national and international significance on counteraction to gender inequality in different areas of public life has been considered. The activity of central executive agencies regarding advancement of women in society and influence of initiated programs on counteraction to gender imbalance in the field of forensic expert support of justice is studied. Statistics on manifestations of possible vertical segregation of labor in leadership positions in state specialized institutions of Ukraine is provided. Examples of international organizations which activity has a wide range of influence and the ones which activity is aimed at improving the state of women forensic experts in the field of forensic expert support are outlined. The experience of such organizations for preventing and overcoming gender imbalance, as well as specific proposals for solving this problem are taken into consideration.

PECULIARITIES OF TRAINING AND ADVANCED TRAINING OF FINGERPRINT EXPERTS

The Article purpose is identification of shortcomings in training, retraining and advanced training of fingerprint experts as well as outline of scientific basis for improving this area of activity. The analysis of domestic scientists’ developments has made it possible to establish that in Ukraine there is no single unified regulatory legal act governing training, retraining and advanced training of a forensic expert, regardless of his institutional subordination. It is proved that current regulatory legal framework for professional training of forensic experts, in particular fingerprint experts, of the system of the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine is at the stage of formation and development and requires further reformation. It is necessary to highlight the section: Procedure for specialists’ training and internship in the Regulations on the Central Expert Qualification Commission under the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine and Certification of Forensic Experts, and to develop a separate regulatory legal act regarding the procedure for advanced training on its basis. Particular attention is drawn to the absence of guidelines on the organization of the education process while forensic expert training, negatively affecting the process of learning during on-site training (in forensic science institutions). Expediency of the development of guidelines on forensic experts’ training for each individual expert specialization is established, which are suggested to be added as separate R&D topics to research work plan of the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine. It is indicated that a detailed study of the introduction of such a component as mentoring into the system of forensic experts’ training is essential. It is stressed that development of the regulatory legal framework for training forensic experts abroad in corresponding forensic science institutions, and the coordination of this area of activity by the Ministry will have a positive impact not only on the quality of training but also on the acquisition of world experience with the subsequent possibility of improving methods for conducting fingerprint analyses.

CONCEPTUAL ASPECTS OF THE USE OF BIBLIOMETRIC TECHNOLOGIES IN THE FIELD OF COUNTERACTION TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES IN THE AIRLINE INDUSTRY

The article specifies that systematic and complex scientific researches on problems of the use of bibliometric technologies in preventive activity regarding detection and neutralization of threats to entities-facilities of air transport, companies staff, institutions and organizations which work in this field have not been considered yet. The results of researches and scientific papers of representatives of the Ukrainian forensic community had been analyzed, which determined the need for theoretical-legal and forensic research in the field of identification and verification of a person with the use of biometric technologies to solve tasks of counteraction to crime and civilian tasks of managerial and controlling content. The article purpose is to define current problems of the development of the newest directions of biometric technologies use in counteraction to criminal and other types of offenses; formation of theoretical principles of algorithmization of the use of biometric technologies in preventive activity. The use of the complex of general and special research methods has made it possible to identify factors and content of reasons and conditions for solving the present day tasks with the use of biometric technologies in security and preventive activities. Such approach has helped to draw the conclusion that the most promising directions of biometric technologies application are: security guaranteeing and ensuring access control to certain areas and space activity facilities; creation of a person identification systems; introduction of reliable and economic means of delimitation of access to the territory of facilities, buildings and internal premises of space activity entities; efficiency and personnel management; information protection of multifunctional user identification systems in information networks, operating systems, various add-ons for typical software.

FORENSIC SCIENCE POSIBILITIES WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS WHILE AVIATION ACCIDENTS

The article analyzes conceptual framework for specific expertise use while conducting forensic examinations related to aviation accidents. Foundations of such activities have been developed. In particular, it is stressed that effective implementation of criminal proceedings depends to a greater extent on the results of expert researches, especially if it is a complex process of aviation accident investigation. Similarly, the quality of expert researches depends on organization of research institutes activity regarding creation of effective methodologies for the analysis of different physical evidence obtained at the aviation accident scene. By using specific expertise, employees of forensic institutions independently or jointly with employees of other specialized institutions, law enforcement agencies, specialists-doctors can advance methods of expert research and, consequently, combat criminal offenses or ensure timely detection of the offender whereabouts. The possibility of expanding the compulsory appointment of forensic examinations in aviation accident criminal proceedings is being considered. Factual and legal grounds for the appointment and conduct of a forensic examination in this case are outlined. Scientifically substantiated recommendations on directions of counteraction to attacks on the aviation industry facilities are suggested, as well as the algorithm for developing innovations for the needs of law enforcement agencies is proposed. It is emphasized that the use of forensic science possibilities within the framework of a criminal proceeding related to aviation accidents is quite influential, since it helps to perform a multidisciplinary professional analysis of evidence, facilitate organization of forensic experts’ work, protect the rights of citizens and contribute to fulfillment of justice tasks in general.