THE SYSTEM OF FORENSIC SCIENCE: HISTORY OF DEVELOPMENT, MODERN APPROACHES TO ITS CHANGE

Abstract

 The scientific article, based on a systematic analysis, in accordance with the set goal, reveals the stages
of development of the science of forensics, considers debatable issues regarding the improvement of the system of
forensics, increasing the number of parts, specifying its system, the interdependence of the subject and the system;
analyzes the current legislation on criminal liability and criminal procedural legislation and states the quasi-scientific
approaches of individual scientists to changing the subject and system of forensic science. During the research, a
combination of general scientific (analysis, analogy, comparison, methods of formal logic, modeling) and special
methods (retrospective analysis, comparative law, systemic-structural, activity-transformative) of scientific knowledge
was applied. The scientific novelty lies in proving the groundlessness of changing the definition of “crime” to the
unscientific construct of “criminal offense”, and of unfounded changes to the subject and system of forensic science. In
addition, the modern traditional definition of forensic science as the science of the regularities of the mechanism of
crime, the appearance of information about the crime and its participants, the regularities of collecting, researching,
evaluating, and using evidence, and special methods and means of pre-trial investigation and trial and crime prevention
based on the knowledge of these regularities, is substantiated. It has been established that the system of forensics as a
holistic conceptual formation encompasses interconnected, inseparable elements of the general theory of forensics,
forensic techniques, forensic tactics, and methods of investigating certain types of crimes. Such a system is consistent
with the principle of systematicity, has been tested in practice and recognized by most scientific forensic schools. The
practical significance of the researching lies in proving the feasibility of using the scientific and legal term “crime” in
forensic science and law enforcement practice.