What an incredible space opens before yesterday's schoolchildren, today's entrants! How many opportunities, how many specialties, how many ways and roads ... The choice of professions for young people is extremely rich, and each of them carries away in its own way. For example, a science like forensics. What is it, what are the methods and principles of forensics and what is it capable of interesting a potential student?
What is forensics
It is clear even to a deeply ignorant person that criminalistics is a discipline related to crimes. However, not all are strong in the intricacies of legal terms. So, forensics (the term came from the Latin language) is a science that studies the laws of crime, including its purpose, execution, disclosure. Forensics investigates material related to a crime, including traces and evidence, based on a specially designed system. The principles of forensics, methods, functions, laws - all this is part of this system.
Thus, to summarize, it turns out that criminology is a science of criminal activity, which also develops special techniques and methods of combating crime, which, in addition, allow quick and competent disclosure of crimes.
Forensic History
Crimes have existed from time immemorial, but until the nineteenth century they did not hear about such a science as forensics. The term denoting a given direction in jurisprudence appeared in circulation thanks to a certain Austrian Hans Gross precisely in this period. Why, then? This was demanded by a sharp jump in crime, not small, random, but well thought out, planned - organized, as experts say.
Since it has always been and remains one of the most exciting problems for the population, there is clearly a need to highlight a specialized industry that would deal exclusively with these issues. However, one cannot talk about the birth of forensic science precisely in the nineteenth century - history knows the facts of a much earlier investigation of crimes based on a scientific, including medical, basis. For example, he investigated and determined the mortal wounds of Hippocrates, and in the thirteenth century, forensic medicine was officially studied at the university.
The impetus for the development of forensics was the discovery of fingerprinting (this happened in the eighties of the nineteenth century). In our country, it became possible to speak, finally, about the formation of a new direction, a new science, only in the thirties of the past century. It is believed that from 1991 to the present day in domestic forensics there has been a new round, rise, development and improvement.
Forensics Functions and Tasks
Like any science, forensics has its own functions and tasks. First, let's talk about the latter. All of them are closely related to the goal of the industry. The goal of forensics, as you can easily guess, is the disclosure of crimes, and the tasks are as follows:
- develop methods and means in order to more easily, better and faster be able to solve crimes and / or prevent them;
- develop the basics of the preliminary investigation (we will say a few words about it later);
- to develop methods to combat crime, to contribute to this (one of the most important, important, paramount tasks);
- identify patterns in the commission of crimes and investigate them;
- study the subject of forensics;
- to create new technical means, methodological foundations for conducting examinations;
- improving existing methods.
Now you can turn to the functions of forensics. They come in five different types. The first is called methodological and contributes to a correct understanding of the content of forensics. The second is an explanatory function - it reflects the subject of this industry from a scientific point of view. The third, synthesizing, contributes to putting in order the available empirical material, the fourth is considered the basis for the theory of forecasting in forensics, and the fifth involves the exchange of experience between peoples and states.
Let us return to the question of the preliminary investigation. There is nothing complicated in this term. A preliminary investigation refers to the activities of a specialist in collecting data, verifying it, establishing evidence and circumstances of the case. All these actions should be carried out only on legal grounds within the framework of the law. Thus, the preliminary investigation is considered an independent separate phase of the entire criminal process.
Forensic Principles
Speaking about forensics and its essence, one cannot but touch upon the principles on which it is based. What is a principle? This Latin word is translated as “basis, beginning” and denotes the initial position on which the theory is based, those main conditions, thanks to which the focus of the entire investigation is determined.
Many experts in the field of forensics agree that in this science there is no single view of principles, their system and the like. They argue that such a discrepancy is possible because the concept of the principle itself is not uniform, it is rather ambiguous (it can be understood as a criterion and as a condition of existence; some also define such a value of the principle as a conclusion - in this case we can no longer just talk about duality, but even the ambiguity of this definition). Nevertheless, the principles of forensics can be defined. These are the fundamental principles and ideas, guided by which, you can better get acquainted with the essence of the industry itself.
Ginzburg Principle System
The scientist, forensic researcher A. Ya. Ginzburg developed his so-called system of forensic principles, believing that it will most correctly reflect the essence of the concept. Ginzburg identified three different categories of principles: general principles, particular principles and special principles. To the first, general, the author attributed the principles that are characteristic not only for the particular science in question, but for all sciences in general: this is historicism, for example, the unity of science and practice, dialectical identity, and so on. In the same category, Ginzburg placed principles that, along with criminology, are possessed by other sciences related to it, for example, the inevitability of punishment (determined by any legal sciences).
According to Ginzburg, particular principles of the development of forensic science will be conclusions allowing expressing a certain unity of knowledge about the structure of forensic science and its content; all these principles relate exclusively to one science - forensics. Finally, the last category highlighted by Ginzburg involves the inclusion of principles that are specific to only one part of a given science or related to only one problem (for example, the principles of interrogation).
Not everyone agreed with the system of principles proposed by A. Ya. Ginzburg; therefore, one cannot speak of it as the only true one.
Be that as it may, but most researchers on this issue are inclined to believe that, like in any other field of scientific knowledge (namely, the industry we are considering), the following can be considered the principles of the science of forensics: the principle of objectivity, the principle of historicism and the principle of systemic science. Each of them should be discussed in more detail.
The principle of objectivity
The principles of forensics include, as we have just seen, the principle of objectivity. Let's try to figure out what it is.
First of all, it is an inextricable link with philosophy and its categories. They, together with the laws of dialectics, are the basis for the principle of objectivity in criminalistics. In more or less simple language, this principle explores all kinds of aspects of the subject, based on philosophical concepts and methodology, using scientific concepts and norms. This is the rejection of any errors, shortcomings, deficiencies in scientific research, the close connection of science with practice and high exactingness to the first. Forensics as a science of cognition originated, develops and continues to exist on the basis of materialistic philosophy, and therefore it is completely justified and not surprising to use dialectic laws, categories and methods for a comprehensive study of the facets of the subject of the industry in question. Using the example of the principle of objectivity, one can trace the indestructible connection of tasks and the principles of criminalistics, since the solution of any problem in this science involves reliance on philosophical concepts.
Principle of historicism
The principles of the development of forensics include the principle of historicism. To understand it is not a big deal. This is a requirement and even the need to consider any phenomenon, its comprehensive study from the point of view of its foundations, its origin, its beginning. Nothing can be correctly understood, and even more so correctly studied, if we discard the historical approach and consider this phenomenon or object in isolation, outside of ties with the outside world, outside of the historical context. Only by finding out what it was in the past, how it appeared, how it developed, under what conditions and circumstances it existed, it is possible to correctly determine its current situation, as well as what it will come to in the future.
An important point: there is historicism, but there is a historical method of cognition. These are two completely different concepts that you should not mix. Historicism is broader, it consists of the theory of the subject and / or phenomenon itself and of the theory of knowledge thereof.
Principle of system
Among the concepts and principles of forensic science there is also the principle of systemicity, or the principle of systemic science. As the name implies, he considers the whole of science as a whole. Forensics itself, each of its many sections and directions, all those objects, objects and phenomena that it studies, according to this principle, are distinguished as interconnected and interdependent parts, elements of one big whole. It also implies the continuous flow of new knowledge that is associated with the old and considered in direct relationships with each other. Thus, under this principle - the principle of objectivity - the law of continuous accumulation of scientific knowledge also works, which, again, allows us to reaffirm the inextricable link between the laws and principles of forensic science.
Interrogation
It was briefly mentioned above that the principles of interrogation in criminalistics, according to Ginzburg, relate to the so-called special principles. Whether this is true or not is not for us to decide, however, these principles certainly deserve to be mentioned, since interrogation is an important and integral part of the criminal process. How effective it will be, how much it will be possible to obtain the required information, directly depends on how skillful the investigator is and how well he understands precisely the principles of interrogation. They come down to the following factors:
- An individual approach to each interrogated person, taking into account personality traits (you need to be a little psychologist - and, moreover, good), as well as what role he plays in the crime that has occurred.
- Active behavior during interrogation, constant “attack” on the opponent.
- The questions asked to the interrogated must be clear, understandable, objective.
- All information obtained during interrogation must be further clarified; nothing can be taken on faith.
- It is impossible to relate to the behavior of the interrogated formally, it is necessary to record and notice all the changes that occur with him. This allows, among other things, to compare information and fill in the gaps in it.
Forensic Planning Principles
Conducting a conversation about the various principles that exist in forensic science, it is impossible not to mention those that are mentioned above. These principles apply, as you might guess, to the planning of the investigation, and they are as follows:
- The planning of each criminal case should be individual and be based on all the features and circumstances of the process. Here, as nowhere else, a creative approach is appropriate. At the same time - if necessary - the use of any general methods, rules and techniques is not prohibited.
- Planning should be timely, which will allow you to quickly and efficiently solve all your tasks.
- Planning should be dynamic, reflecting all changes in the criminal process (which occur regularly and continuously).
- The principles of forensic planning also include concreteness, which implies a clear and concise plan with corresponding tasks.
- Another principle is reality. No need to resort to fantastic versions to solve the proposed case.
- Finally, the last, sixth principle is consistency. All points of the plan should be agreed among themselves.
Principles of Investigation
One of the integral parts of the criminal process is the investigation. Accordingly, there are laws, in other words, the principles of its implementation. So, the principles of investigative examination in forensics include the timeliness of this inspection itself and its objectivity. Timeliness is important because over time (and the more it has passed, the worse) an object that needs to be inspected can be intentionally or unintentionally modified. And this will only complicate the work of the investigator. With regard to objectivity during the inspection, this means that everything should be recorded at the crime scene only in the form in which it was found. No gag should take place. In addition, during the inspection it is necessary to put forward several versions of what happened, which should subsequently be worked out - this can be considered another principle of the investigative inspection.
We must not forget about the correct, uniform management of the inspection process, and about the activity in its process. The last principle means conducting an inspection, regardless of interest as solely official persons with maximum zeal and dedication, with the disclosure of all your creative potential. The final principle of the investigative examination can be called its methodology.
Laws of the development of forensics
If there are principles, then there must be laws related to the development of forensics, and they exist. They can be divided into general and particular, that is, specific - in other words, peculiar exclusively to this science under consideration. As an example of general laws, it is permissible to give an example of the law of the continuous accumulation of scientific knowledge (it has already been mentioned above).
As for narrow, specific laws, this is primarily the law of continuity of concepts - between old and new; then it is the law of adaptation of knowledge from the most diverse fields and sciences for the most efficient production; finally, the third law is the law on the conditionality of criminalistic recommendations for the practical needs and requirements of the fight against crime.
Discipline system
The functions, sources and principles of forensic science - all this is interesting, but nevertheless this is far from all of what belongs to this very criminology. There is a separate system of this science, which includes four categories. This is the general theory of forensic science, forensic technology, forensic tactics and, finally, a technique (also, of course, forensic). It would be advisable to at least briefly talk about each of these categories.
General Theory of Forensics
This is a common system of all terms, definitions, concepts, methods, and the like, used in forensics. The general theory of this science is its methodological basis. In addition, the general theory of forensics includes all kinds of particular theories, which are the subject of forensics and the basis for the development of all kinds of concepts, tasks and principles of forensics.
Technics
All kinds of means, methods, and provisions necessary for collecting material and researching it, based on a system of special scientific provisions, are called forensic technology. This technique includes diverse ways of applying knowledge in various disciplines, the knowledge necessary for a full investigation.
Forensic technology is divided into several branches.For example, a separate branch, or industry, is forensic photography — the methods of photographing and its use that are required to solve a crime. There is also forensic video recording, for example, fingerprinting (fingerprint identification; they are known to be unique), trasology (studying traces), handwriting, forensic ballistics (studying firearms) and many other equally interesting sub-sectors.
Tactics
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Methodology
Finally, the last section of the forensic system — the forensic technique — examines the patterns of investigation of criminal cases in relation to a specific type of crime. This includes the common part and a separate, special part (it is called that). The general part includes general knowledge, the special one - those that are necessary in a particular, specific form of crime (for example, the investigation of thefts has its own method, the investigation of murders has its own, the investigation of bribery has its own, and so on). The forensic methodology of the investigation considers the organization of a crime, its interaction with operatives, the public, journalists, and the like. By the way, the methods are classified not only by type of crime, but also by other categories (for example, crimes committed by minors and adults, Russian citizens and foreigners, in transport and indoors, and so on).
It is impossible to fully cover in a single article the whole spectrum of what a particular industry or science does. However, at least briefly the functions, sources and principles of forensics are highlighted above. And who knows, maybe this will help some kind of restless young mind to find application in life?