Tactics of Interviewing Minors who are Victims of Crimes against Sexual Freedom and Integrity

Abstract

The purpose of article is to present the tactics of interviewing minors who are victims of crimes against sexual freedom and integrity. The abovementioned aim is achieved by performing the following tasks: formulate the basic framework of interviewing minors who are victims of crimes against sexual freedom and integrity; reveal the peculiarities of tactical approaches application along with its combinations depending on the investigative situation (interviewing the underage victims). Меthodological tools are selected with due attention to the aim, object specificity and research subject. Dialectic method is chosen to be the primary one; certain special methods are used: comparative – analysis of international and domestic legislation, scientific categories; systemic-structural – to formulate tasks for the procedure of interviewing minors who are victims of crimes against sexual freedom and integrity. Scientific novelty of this paper stipulates separation of international standards regarding the minors’ interviewing formulated on the basis of provisions contained in UN Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (1950), Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989), European Convention on the Exercise of Children’s Rights (1996), Guidelines on Justice in Matters involving Child Victims and Witnesses of Crime (2005), Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (2007), Guidelines of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on child-friendly justice (2010) etc. These and many other important international documents establish regulatory framework, providing certain guidelines for the law enforcement in the area of delivering justice with involvement of minors. It is crucial to ensure the compliance with the highest international standards of treating minors who are victims of crimes against sexual freedom and integrity, including the use of such techniques as «child-friendly room» or «green room» Conclusions. Interviewing as a verbal investigative (search) action is of primary importance in cases when it is necessary to obtain the testimony from the underage victim of crime against sexual freedom and integrity but requires to take the performance tactics into consideration namely tactical approaches and forensic recommendations. 

Кeywords: criminal proceeding; forensic tactics; forensic science; tactical approach; psychological contact; child; «green room».