Interrogation tactics for underage victims of domestic violence

Abstract

Conducting an interrogation of minors who have suffered from domestic violence, considering the special procedural situation of the latter and the threatening trends in the growth of these offences, determines the need to develop tactical features and formulate the optimal sequence of implementation of this investigative (search) action, so the relevance of this study does not raise objections. The purpose of the study is to investigate the procedural, tactical, and psychological features of conducting an interrogation of underage victims of domestic violence and formulate appropriate scientific and practical recommendations for timely and high-quality implementation of this investigative (search) action. To highlight the specifics of the stages of conducting such an interrogation, to reveal the specifics of organising preparation for the interrogation of underage victims, and on this basis to formulate appropriate scientific and practical recommendations. Find out the possibility and conditions for conducting remote interrogation of underage victims of domestic violence. Outline the main questions that need to be answered during the interrogation of an underage victim of domestic violence. Methodology. During the research, a set of scientific methods was applied: dialectical, methods of analysis and synthesis, induction and deduction, system and structural, formal and logical, comparative legal, modelling, and generalisation. Conclusions. As a result of the conducted research, it was determined that the interrogation of an underage victim of domestic abuse should consist of a set of tactical, psychological, and legally regulated actions of the investigator to collect, evaluate and record criminally significant information about the event of a criminal offence (the fact(s) of domestic abuse) by direct communication of the investigator with the minor to obtain truthful information about the circumstances of the committed illegal act. Attention was drawn to the need to establish psychological contact and trusting relations with a minor. Attention is focused on the advantages of conducting remote interrogation of underage victims of domestic violence. It is concluded that during the interrogation, the age, individual characteristics, level of psychophysical development of an underage victim of domestic violence, and a situational approach combined with appropriate correction of the investigator's behaviour are subject to consideration. The practical significance lies in the fact that the study formulates conclusions and proposals aimed at improving the effectiveness of investigators' interrogation of underage victims of domestic violence. The study results can also serve as a basis for improving national legislation, as proposals were formulated to amend the criminal procedure legislation of Ukraine

Keywords

• criminal proceedings
• tactical technique
• psychological contact
• situational approach
• investigative (search) action
• remote interrogation