THE APPLICATION OF PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACT IN CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS

Abstract

The purpose of the article is to explore the comprehensive issue on the use of psychological impact in criminal proceedings, due to its importance. In the course of the research the definition of term «psychological impact» was provided. It was proven that a prerequisite for expounding of psychological impact issues in the pre-trial investigation is to clarify its legal and general content as an integral feature of any legal regulation act. The expediency of psychological impact applying during investigative actions, as well as its use as a part of tactics or as an area of investigator's activity in solving particular tasks of investigation, was explained. It was determined by the author that the main focus of psychological impact,
both during pre-trial investigation and judicial proceedings, is to obtain objectively truthful information concerning the investigated case in a legal way from sources established by law. It was determined that psychological impact is a necessary essential element of forensic (investigative) tactics, a constant source of tactical recommendations and an indispensable structural component of tactical options and operations of procedural and operational nature. The reliability of the  obtained results and conclusions is ensured by a set of methods of philosophical, general scientific and specific scientific levels. In particular, there were used the following methods: system-structural – was used to clarify the essence of the  researched categories and legal phenomena and the connection of psychological impact elements in criminal proceedings with other categories of forensics; scientific abstraction – was used to form an opinion on theoretical, legal and organizational foundations of the psychological impact application in criminal proceedings and for improvement of legal norms and procedures of its application; dogmatic – helped to clarify the conceptual and categorical framework; modelling – was used to make conclusions and overall estimates.
Keywords: psychological impact; investigative tactics; tactical option; pre-trial investigation; forensics.