Specific Features of Evidence Verification Obtained with the Participation of Juvenile Victims of Violent Crimes

Abstract

The issues related to the peculiarities of the evidence validation obtained with the participation of juvenile victims of violent crimes. During the evidence inspection, especially obtained directly from minors, it is necessary to consider the circumstances under which law enforcement become aware of the fact of violent crime committal against a minor. As the results of our study, information on violent acts can be obtained either directly from minors, or from other sources (e.g., from parents or other close relatives, from a medical facility, orphanage, kindergarten, etc.). In situations where information about a violent crime is received directly from the affected child, they are not only the starting point of the investigation process, but also in comparison with other situations they are more likely to contain sensitive data. When information about the fact of violence is passed law enforcement by parents or other close relatives or medical institution for children, the information obtained from child victims should be treated with extreme caution, because a high probability of providing false testimony exists. During the inspection of evidence obtained in the course of investigative (investigation) actions involving minors, an important component are the results of psychological and psychiatric studies of minors. Use of the results of psychological-psychiatric examination of minors offered to determine the level of mental development and ability to correctly perceive, understand and assess the events that occurred with one’s participation, as well as other factors, to conduct investigative (search) actions involving minors, which will not only reduce the time of the investigation due to the expectation of examination results, but also will serve as adequate proof of the testimony objectivity. During the conduct of investigative (search) actions with participation of minors it is important to focus on the age characteristics of the child. The specific development of the child's psyche can greatly assist the investigator in the investigation of violent crime and, in particular, in validation of the evidence collected.