Interrogation of a minor victim during the investigation of criminal offenses related to domestic violence
Abstract
The scientific article is devoted to certain aspects directly related to the procedural regulation of the interrogation of minors during the pre-trial investigation of criminal proceedings related to domestic violence. An analysis of international legal acts containing relevant standards in the researched field, provisions of the current criminal procedural legislation of Ukraine, as well as scientific works, whose authors worked on the outlined issue, has been carried out. This is due to the fact that sometimes in such proceedings the only source of evidence is the testimony of minor victims. In such cases, the process of obtaining and evaluating evidence is determined by age, individual psychological and many other characteristics of the interrogated.
In criminal proceedings related to domestic violence, issues related to the place of interrogation of a minor and ways of recording it are quite relevant. On the basis of the conducted research, it has been substantiated that the interrogation of a minor should be carried out in a room: a) where the environment will be friendly for him or her; b) which is equipped with means for audio and video recording. Such statements are fully consistent with the “green room” method. Taking into account the above, it is proposed to make changes to the provisions provided for in Part 1 of Art. 226 of the CCP of Ukraine. In addition, attention has been drawn to the change in the philosophy of obtaining testimony from a minor regarding the circumstances of a committed criminal offense from interrogation to procedural interview.
Interrogation of a minor must be carried out by an investigator according to the rules provided by the Code of Criminal Procedure of Ukraine. However, before the interrogation, the investigator must: select a suitable specialist psychologist; give them the opportunity to get acquainted with the materials of the criminal proceedings, taking into account the meeting with the minor; based on the circumstances to be proven, agree with the specialist on the content and form of the questions necessary for clarification. Taking into account the above, it has been concluded that it is considered necessary in the provisions of the current legislation to provide for this a specially authorized person - a juvenile investigator.
Downloads
References
Puras D., Kalashnyk O., Kochemyrovska O. and Tsiuman T., 2015. Methodological recommendations for interviewing children who witnessed and/or were victims of violence, as well as those who committed violence [Metodychni rekomendatsii shchodo opytuvannia ditei, shcho staly svidkamy ta/abo zhertvamy nasylstva, a takozh vchynyly nasylstvo]. Kyiv: FOP KLYMENKO. (Ed.: Tsiman T.).
Basysta I.V. and Pryshlyak S.O., 2008. The peculiarities of interrogating juvenile victims of crimes against sex freedom and sex immunity [Osoblyvosti dopytu nepovnolitnikh poterpilykh vid zlochyniv proty statevoi svobody ta statevoi nedotorkanosti]. Naukovij vìsnik Lʹvìvsʹkogo deržavnogo unìversitetu vnutrìšnìh sprav – Scientific Bulletin of Lviv State University of Internal Affairs, [online] No. 2. Available at https://www1.lvduvs.edu.ua/documents_pdf/library/visnyky/nvsy/02_2008/08bivtsn.pdf [Accessed 27 August 2022].
Nesterenko V.A., 2020. “Green room”: expediency, procedure, participants, possibilities of using the results [“Zelena kimnata”: dotsilnist, protsedura provedennia, uchasnyky, mozhlyvosti vykorystannia rezultativ]. In: National Academy of Internal Affairs et al., Actual problems of pre-trial investigation and trial of crimes against sexual freedom and sexual integrity of children, ways to solve them [Aktualni problemy dosudovoho rozsliduvannia ta sudovoho rozhliadu zlochyniv proty statevoi svobody ta statevoi nedotorkanosti ditei, shliakhy yikh vyrishennia]. Kyiv, 19 June. Kyiv: Natsionalna akademiia vnutrishnikh sprav. Pp. 212-217.
Malyovana T., 2015. Place of interview of a child who is a victim of crime in criminal proceedings [Mistse provedennia dopytu dytyny, yaka poterpila vid zlochynu u kryminalnomu provadzhenni]. Vìsnik krimìnalʹnogo sudočinstva – Herald of Criminal Justice, No. 3, pp. 174-184.
Bochkor N.P., Dotsenko O.V., Levchenko K.B. et al., 2012. “Green rooms”: recommendations for equipment [“Zeleni kimnaty”: rekomendatsii do obladnannia]. Kyiv: TOV “Ahenstvo ‘Ukraina’”.
Burlaka V.V., 2020. Peculiarities of interrogation of a minor during the investigation of illegal deprivation of liberty or abduction [Osoblyvosti dopytu nepovnolitnoho pid chas rozsliduvannia nezakonnoho pozbavlennia voli abo vykradennia]. In: National Academy of Internal Affairs et al., Actual problems of pre-trial investigation and trial of crimes against sexual freedom and sexual integrity of children, ways to solve them [Aktualni problemy dosudovoho rozsliduvannia ta sudovoho rozhliadu zlochyniv proty statevoi svobody ta statevoi nedotorkanosti ditei, shliakhy yikh vyrishennia]. Kyiv, 19 June. Kyiv: Natsionalna akademiia vnutrishnikh sprav. Pp. 50-53.
Lutsyk V.V. and Havhun S.R., 2020. Modern investigative interview models [Suchasni modeli protsesualnoho interviu]. Časopis Kiïvsʹkogo unìversitetu prava – Law Review of Kyiv University of Law, No. 1, pp. 316-323. https://doi.org/10.36695/2219-5521.1.2020.63.
Lysachenko S.L., 2019. Differences between procedural interview and interrogation and survey [Vidminnosti protsesualnoho interviu vid dopytu ta opytuvannia]. In: National Academy of the State Border Service of Ukraine et al., Actual problems of criminal law, process, criminology and operative and investigative activities [Aktualni problemy kryminalnoho prava, protsesu, kryminalistyky ta operatyvno-rozshukovoi diialnosti]. Khmelnytskyi, 1 March. Khmelnytskyi: Vydavnytstvo NADHHSU. Pp. 487-489.
Hlobenko H.I., 2021. Information and telecommunication system of pre-trial investigation: international experience and ways of implementation [Informatsiino-telekomunikatsiina systema dosudovoho rozsliduvannia: mizhnarodnyi dosvid i shliakhy zaprovadzhennia]. Visn. Hark. nac. univ. vnutr. sprav [Visnyk Universytetu vnutrishnikh sprav], No. 4, pp. 188-198. https://doi.org/10.32631/v.2021.4.16.
Matiushkova T.P., 2019. Features of interrogation tactics of minors in an extremely vulnerable state [Osoblyvosti taktyky dopytu nepovnolitnikh u nadzvychaino-vrazlyvomu stani]. In: Dzhurak L.M. (Ed.), Problems of ensuring human rights and freedoms [Problemy zabezpechennia prav i svobod liudyny]. Lutsk, 13 December. Lutsk: Vezha-Druk. Pp. 192-194.
Lubenets I.H., 2020. Actual problems of ensuring the rights of children, victims of crimes against sexual freedom and sexual integrity [Aktualni problemy zabezpechennia prav ditei, postrazhdalykh vid zlochyniv proty statevoi svobody ta statevoi nedotorkanosti]. In: National Academy of Internal Affairs et al., Actual problems of pre-trial investigation and trial of crimes against sexual freedom and sexual integrity of children, ways to solve them [Aktualni problemy dosudovoho rozsliduvannia ta sudovoho rozhliadu zlochyniv proty statevoi svobody ta statevoi nedotorkanosti ditei, shliakhy yikh vyrishennia]. Kyiv, 19 June. Kyiv: Natsionalna akademiia vnutrishnikh sprav. Pp. 164-167.
Priakhina N.O. and Ptashnyk-Serediuk O.I., 2020. Taking into account the psychological features of the development of the minors during the interrogation (interviewing) according to the “green room” methodology [Urakhuvannia psykholohichnykh osoblyvostei rozvytku osobystosti nepovnolitnikh pid chas dopytu (opytuvannia) za metodykoiu “zelena kimnata”]. Gabìtus – Habitus, Iss. 14, pp. 266-270. https://doi.org/10.32843/2663-5208.2020.14.45.
Romaniuk V.V., 2014. Participation of a teacher, psychologist and doctor in criminal proceedings against minors [Uchast pedahoha, psykholoha ta likaria u kryminalnomu provadzhenni shchodo nepovnolitnikh]. Visn. Hark. nac. univ. vnutr. sprav [Visnyk Universytetu vnutrishnikh sprav], No. 4, pp. 101-109.
Copyright (c) 2022 V. P. Gontarenko
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
