On July 11, 2024, Nataliia Arefina, Senior Forensic Expert of the Zhytomyr Branch of Kyiv Scientific Research Institute of Forensic Expertise joined the seminar on “Improving the quality of investigative (procedural) actions with the participation of psychologists and effective obtaining of information to ensure the conduct of psychological examination”.
The seminar, initiated by the Zhytomyr Regional Prosecutor’s Office, was held with the participation of specialists as part of a pilot project to involve psychologists in criminal proceedings involving minors, juveniles through regional/interregional centers for free legal aid.
The joint discussion revealed problematic issues related to obtaining valuable information free from outside influence during the interview (interrogation) of juveniles in criminal proceedings using video recording, which is the object of further research for forensic psychological examination.
The expert of the Zhytomyr Branch highlighted issues related to the algorithm of expert actions during a forensic psychological examination based on video recording materials. The expert explained the focus of the expert study on the analysis of the nature and individual psychological characteristics of the child’s communicative activity during the investigative action, the peculiarities of their communicative interaction with all participants in the investigative action in order to clarify the issues of independence or lack of independence of the child’s provision of legally significant information, the presence or absence of a significant impact on the child’s free manifestations.
Based on examples from expert experience, the author discussed mistakes made by participants in the investigative action during the organization and conduct of the interview (interrogation) of a child, and provided recommendations for minimizing them, taking into account the age characteristics of the child.
The participants of the seminar jointly discussed and agreed on general algorithms for improving interaction with minors during the investigative action, which will help improve the pre-trial investigation and possible further trials in criminal proceedings involving children.
