On the relationship between the forensic characteristics of crimes committed against minors, in particular, with the use of information and telecommunication technologies, and the peculiarities of their investigation

• Published in: Юридические исследования no. 7; pp. 61 - 78
• Main Author: Ravinskaya, Anna Vladislavovna
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.07.2025
• ISSN: 2409-7136; 2409-7136
• DOI: 10.25136/2409-7136.2025.7.74854

The object of the study is the unity of the forensic characteristics and features of the investigation of crimes committed against minors. The article considers the history of the emergence of the scientific phenomenon of "forensic characteristics of crimes" and the diversity of points of view of domestic scientists regarding its definition. The author independently identifies the most significant structural elements of the forensic characteristics of the crimes in question, reveals their content, in particular, taking into account the current state of development of information and telecommunication technologies and their impact on crime. The negative impact of digitalization, which determines a certain expansion of the content of the structural elements of the forensic characteristics of crimes, on the process of their disclosure and investigation is noted. It is concluded that the characteristics of the personality of a minor victim and information about it certainly predetermine the content of other structural elements of the forensic characteristics of the criminal acts in question. The methodological basis is a set of general scientific and specific scientific methods that ensure the objectivity and comprehensiveness of the study. The historical and legal method allowed to identify the features of the formation and development of the forensic characteristics of crimes. The formal legal method contributed to the system analysis and interpretation of the norms of the current legislation, the empirical method - to the study of materials of judicial and law enforcement practice, statistical and sociological methods - to the analysis of official statistical data, questionnaires of employees of the prosecutor's office. The author also used logical, dialectical, inductive, deductive methods, description, analysis and synthesis. Certain provisions of the study demonstrate a new approach to the formation and practical application of the personality characteristics of a minor victim and information about it for the process of investigating crimes and subsequent proving in a criminal case. The author emphasized the importance of establishing the exact age of the child (teenager) and identifying the fact of awareness of the guilty person about it, proposed options for resolving the designated problem. The analysis of the personality of the subject of the crime allowed the author to make proposals regarding the types of his relationships (degree of acquaintance) with the minor victim, knowledge of which contributes to the construction and verification of investigative versions, organization and planning of the investigation of the crimes in question. The unconditional value of forensic characteristics of crimes for the quality, completeness and objectivity of their investigation is substantiated, which determines the choice of certain investigative and other procedural actions, the corresponding tactics and individuality of their implementation, in particular, the mandatory involvement of persons with special knowledge.