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It is pointed out, we can frankly say that European integration transformations in the reform of law enforcement activities have already become an irreversible process and for many years to come this will be the main direction of improving the functioning of Ukrainian judicial, prosecutorial and other law enforcement bodies. Despite the state of war and the continued resolute repulsion of Russian aggression, Ukraine is making significant efforts to implement the necessary transformations in its national legal order. The article examines the international legal standards that regulate the activity of Ukrainian national judicial and law enforcement agencies in preventing the commission of criminal offenses as one of the most important components of the crime prevention process. The thesis that crime prevention in Ukraine, as one of the most important components of the functioning of the law and order system, should be carried out precisely on the basis of international standards, which, in turn, create an atmosphere of orderliness and coordination of the actions of all law enforcement structures of the signatories of international agreements on combating crime as a phenomenon not only at the national level, but also its modem manifestations in the form of cross-border and international organized crime. Based on the analysis of international legal sources and the works of domestic scientists, conclusions are drawn that it is necessary to use the European experience of public administration in combating crime through the implementation of international standards in public administration and planning of the activities of judicial and law enforcement agencies, including in separate areas of combating crime; it is expedient among the priority measures to apply international standards for the prevention of corruption both in the entire system of state bodies in general, and especially for countering criminal corruption offenses that can be committed by officials of any rank in the spheres of judicial, prosecutorial and other law enforcement activities; it is necessary to achieve a high level of public trust in judicial and law enforcement structures; it is necessary to form an anti-corruption culture of law enforcement officers taking into account the requirements of international standards and best global practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The scientific article focuses on the key aspects of the problem related to identifying and proving the facts of corrupt activity and turning such activity into an investigation. The investigation itself is connected with the collection and assessment of evidence, their correct fixation. Particular attention is paid to ensuring that all collected evidence is included in the criminal proceedings and evaluated correctly by the court. In this case, the evidence must be proper, admissible, reliable and sufficient. Methods of evidence collection, features of their assessment, and attachment to the proceedings are analyzed. The evidence must relate to the circumstances of the criminal proceedings and include: witness statements, written documents, material evidence, expert opinions and electronic evidence. The collection of evidence in such a category of cases as corruption requires detailed attention, since corruption offenses are secret schemes and agreements, the involvement of an intellectual component and the difficulty of detecting such actions. During the investigation of corruption offenses, indirect evidence is most often used, such as financial and accounting documents, electronic documentation between participants, to certify agreements, testimony of third parties. Special attention is paid to the normative and legal framework, which regulates the process of proof in corruption cases, as well as practical aspects of the work of law enforcement agencies. The article also highlights procedural violations of legislation in corruption offenses: presumption of innocence; conducting searches; dissemination of information obtained during the conduct of secret investigative (research) actions; excessive publicity; disclosure of information about persons who carry out confidential cooperation. A relevant aspect is a certain distinction between evidence that was obtained in a legal and illegal way: «clean» (the guilt of the accused was established on the basis of proper and admissible evidence and proved beyond a reasonable doubt) and «dirty» (inadmissible evidence was used, provocation was used, the rights of the participants were violated proceedings). In the process of formation and verification of evidence, the goal is to create specific means (evidence), then in the process of proving the circumstances of the crime, these means should be applied by way of argumentation, substantiating certain theses (conclusions, procedural decisions). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Implementation of the State policy in the activities of the Customs Service is carried out through the system of law enforcement, human rights and judicial authorities. Counteraction to violations of customs legislation is entrusted to the customs authorities of Ukraine. The activities of the Customs Service are associated with the need to obtain information on the security of the state border, on persons crossing the border, and on the items being transported, which is provided by the Security Service of Ukraine. The state law enforcement policy is implemented not only through the activities of law enforcement agencies, but also through the system of human rights bodies of state power. These include the institution of the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, as w ell as the bar and notary. The specificity of law enforcement agencies is the combination of law enforcement functions with organizational, managerial, control and inspection functions. The Customs Service plays a central role in preventing and detecting offenses related to the movement of goods across the customs border of Ukraine. The State Customs Service of Ukraine is a central executive body that ensures the state customs policy, organizes the functioning of the customs system, manages the area of management entrusted to it, and is responsible for its condition and development. The Customs Service is accompanied by military border guard units, which ensures the effectiveness of its tasks in preventing and detecting smuggling and customs offenses. Criminal legislation is evolving to increase liability and recognize smuggling as a criminal offense, taking into account the value of goods moved across the customs border of Ukraine. The type of the transported goods determines the qualification of the offense. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article is devoted to criminal offenses committed by police officers. It was emphasized that today, the responsibility for the implementation of the state policy regarding national security and the fight against crime is assigned to law enforcement agencies, in particular to the National Police of Ukraine. However, in such an institution of the security sector, measures to prevent offenses among personnel are not sufficiently effective, and control over the official activities of subordinates by managers, especially at the middle and lower levels, often remains formal, which leads to the commission of criminal offenses, in that including in the field of official activity with a clearly expressed corruption component. In the process of implementing Ukraine's strategic course towards European integration, important tasks are the optimization of the principles of work of the National Police bodies and units, as well as the improvement of the legal status of police officers. This is necessary for the implementation of guarantees for the protection of human and citizen rights and freedoms enshrined in national and international law. It is noted that all criminal illegal manifestations are conditionally divided into two categories: criminal offenses in the field of official activity and other offenses, that is, all criminally punishable acts that are not related to the performance of official duties. Offenses committed by police officers in the field of official activity are part of corruption crimes committed by representatives of law enforcement agencies. The main factors contributing to the spread of such actions in the police and their concealment are the lack of clarity in the regulation of official powers of various groups of personnel and categories of personnel, as well as the concealment of traces of offenses by both the perpetrators themselves and their immediate supervisors. In addition, there is a connection between abuse of office and other types of offenses in which victims and other interested persons may be involved. To ensure the proper level of discipline and legality among police personnel, it is necessary to implement a prevention strategy, which includes a set of measures aimed at identifying, preventing, and stopping corrupt, criminal, and other illegal a ctions in police teams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines the problems of applying the European experience of legal regulation of the organization and activities of police bodies to the legislation of Ukraine in the context of European integration processes. The author analyzes the current state of the reform of the National Police of Ukraine, identifies the main problems and challenges in the way of implementing European standards in the activities of law enforcement agencies. Key aspects of the adaptation of national legislation to the norms of the European Union are considered, in particular in the field of human rights protection and public safety. Special attention is paid to the analysis of the Law of Ukraine «On the National Police» for compliance with international standards of police accountability and mechanisms of public con trol. The author highlights the main problems that prevent the effective implementation of European experience in the activities of the Ukrainian police. Among them: insufficient regulation of public control mechanisms, lack of ratification of important international documents, the need to improve information and analytical support, as well as to overcome the «force» model of work in favor of the «service» one. The article emphasizes the need to transform not only the legislative framework, but also the mentality of police officers and society as a whole. Issues of introduction of new forms of police activity, such as patrol police and dialogue police, as well as the application of modern technologies and methods of analytical work, are considered. Special attention is paid to the problems of combating corruption in the law enforcement system and ensuring adequate resources for police activities, especially in the conditions of martial law. The author emphasizes the importance of further improvement of the legal framework to ensure effective protection of the rights and freedoms of citizens, increase the transparency of the police and strengthen its interaction with the public. The conclusions emphasize the need for a comprehensive approach to reforming the law enforcement system of Ukraine, taking into account European experience, but with mandatory consideration of national characteristics and current challenges facing the coun try. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study is devoted to the disclosure of administrative and legal support for gender equality in the police based on certain aspects of the experience of foreign countries. It is emphasized that the problem of achieving gender equality is relevant not only for the National Police, but also for other components of the security and defense sector of Ukraine. It is emphasized that a comprehensive solution to the problem of gender equality in the National Police should include the following tasks: analysis of the theoretical foundations of the concept of "gender equality" and its features in the context of law enforcement; analysis and representation of the current state of administrative and legal support for gender equality in the National Police of Ukraine; comparative analysis of ways to achieve gender equality in the police of foreign countries; to identify the main problematic aspects of ensuring gender equality in the police; to formulate proposals for practical improvement of administrative and legal support for gender equality in the National Police of Ukraine. It is stated that the problematic issues of achieving gender equality in the National Police of Ukraine should be addressed at two key levels: regulatory and organizational. It is believed that an important aspect of borrowing positive foreign experience of the Council of Europe's action plan for Ukraine "Resilience. Recovery. Rebuilding" for 2023-2026 is the achievement of gender equality in the National Police, overcoming sexism, mobbing, any manifestations of gender discrimination, etc. This will allow not only to create a legal basis for introducing appropriate changes in the work of the National Police, but also to implement them in the practice of this law enforcement institution. The author concludes that in the post-war period, it is necessary to focus on studying the foreign experience of advanced democratic states, with a focus on the most acceptable practices for implementation by Ukraine. This should help to overcome the gender gap in the National Police of Ukraine in the postwar period and develop this institution as a democratic law enforcement agency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines the foreign experience of the administrative and legal foundations of the organization and activities of the State Bureau of Investigation. It is indicated that the experience of foreign states in the field of crime prevention among senior officials is ambiguous. The experience of the USA, Ireland, Austria, Croatia and Norway shows the existence of the following types of law enforcement bodies: 1) these are bodies empowered to combat crimes committed by officials and against organized crime and are subordinate to the police; 2) these are bodies that are empowered to fight prosecutor's offices, the so-called «dual subordination»; 3) these are bodies that are empowered to fight against crimes committed by officials, against corruption and organized crime and are subordinate to police bodies. It is concluded that the State Bureau of Investigation does not belong to any of the named groups of bodies, as it combines the powers to counter and fight crimes committed by state officials, in particular judges and law enforcement officers, war crimes, as well as corruption crimes, sub objects of which are the specified persons, with the exception of those under the jurisdiction of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine. It is justified that the study of foreign experience in improving the organization and activities of the State Bureau of Investigation is a very important point on the way to improving its administrative and legal status. At the same time, we consider it necessary to note that the borrowing of foreign experience should not be spontaneous and mindless, it should be based on a deep and meaningful analysis of all the essential conditions and circumstances in which this experience was formed, and their comparison with the existing social political and economic situation in Ukraine. This is necessary so that borrowed ideas are not simply declared in legislation, but can actually be implemented in the practical activities of law enforcement agencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article is devoted to a thorough study of the legal status of the State Customs Service of Ukraine and substantiates the need to grant it the status of a law enforcement agency. Attention is focused on the fact that since the declaration of independence of Ukraine, the customs body has undergone numerous reorganizations. However, despite these changes, their frequency did not always correlate with an increase in the efficiency of his activity. The State Customs Service of Ukraine lacks the legal status of a law enforcement agency, which significantly limits its capabilities in the field of combating customs violations, conducting operational investigative activities, and also reduces the level of international cooperation in the fight against transnational crimes, such as smuggling and other offenses. It is argued that giving the customs service the status of a law enforcement agency will ensure a number of positive changes, including increasing the effectiveness of customs control, strengthening the economic security of the state, and strengthening the fight against illegal operations. In this context, it is emphasized that the customs service, performing its functions, without the appropriate legal status, does not have the opportunity to fully interact with other law enforcement agencies and effectively fight the financial and economic threats that are increasing in the conditions of globalization, which negatively affects its role in the state system control, since the customs authorities actually remain in secondary positions in the fight against international criminal groups. The article proposes to make changes to the current legislation, in particular to the «Regulations on the State Customs Service of Ukraine», which will allow to clearly define its status as a law enforcement agency. Such a step will contribute to the improvement of legal regulation and increase the efficiency of the customs service in the conditions of modern challenges. Thus, the author concluded that granting the State Customs Service of Ukraine the status of a law enforcement agency is a necessary step in ensuring the appropriate level of economic and financial security of the country, and will also contribute to the strengthening of international cooperation in the fight against transnational crime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines the peculiarities of the interaction between the police and the population (on the example of Great Britain). It was determined that the decentralized policy of building a system of law enforcement agencies in comparison with the centralized one can have a number of advantages, including taking into account the national, cultural, religious and other features of individual regions of the country, which allows the application of the most effective mechanisms of public security. It is determined that the principle of «policing by consent» is a central principle in the relationship between the police and the population, emphasizes cooperation between them and legality, means that the legitimacy of policing is based on a general consensus of support that arises from transparency of powers, honesty in exercising these powers and responsibility f or activities. It is emphasized that in order to ensure voluntary compliance with the law and positive relations with the population, the police interacts with the help of informational and promotional programs, public consultations and meetings, thereby realizing the principle of public support and cooperation. The principle of minimum use of force specifies that the use of force by the police should be a measure of last resort, used only when necessary and appropriate to the situation. Police officers are trained in de-escalation techniques and encouraged to use non-v iolent methods whenever possible. It is noted that the principle of impartiality and justice contributes to the fact that the police ensure justice and equality of relations with the population, regardless of race, religion, gender or socioeconomic status. The principle of respect for human rights aims at the respect and protection of human rights by the police, ensuring that their actions do not violate civil liberties. Through a combination of a legal framework, rigorous police training, accountability mechanisms and public involvement, UK police are committed to ensuring that their actions consistently protect and respect human rights. This commitment not only increases public trust, but also contributes to a fair er and more equal society. Maintaining public trust and ensuring police accountability are critical to the continued effectiveness of British policing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article deals with the search for ways to combine the efforts of customs and law enforcement agencies in the fight against illegal attempts to move goods, objects or substances across the customs border of a country. The concept and basic principles of law enforcement activities are studied, as well as the criteria for inclusion in such a system. By analyzing the powers of a number of state bodies, the author has compiled a list of law enforcement agencies involved in the fight against smuggling. It is emphasized that customs authorities today can be fully attribut ed to law enforcement agencies. Approaches to understanding the interaction of law enforcement agencies, its principles and directions of implementation are considered in detail. The author critically assesses the absence of a legal act regulating the procedure for interaction of bodies in in the fight against crime. While there is definitely a need for this, although the issues of interaction are locally outlined in special laws on individual state (law enforcement) agencies. It is recognized that modern regulation of issues of interaction between law enforcement agencies, and their list should be updated in the light of the reforms of such bodies, and must necessarily include customs authorities. It is emphasized that the problem of duplication of tasks and functions, chasing indicators and creating the illusion of an active fight against crime, has been relevant for more than two decades. Despite changes in legislation, liquidation or reorganization of previous bodies and the creation of new ones, renewal of personnel and units, the lack of clear delineation of powers of law enforcement agencies, and sometimes of law enforcement agencies, and sometimes dual competence or departmental ambitions, lead to a distortion of the actual picture of the organization of countering smuggling. The author outlines certain risks of interference with the organization and implementation of customs control that arise from a destructive perception of interaction. The institutional capacity of customs authorities as a lever is considered for improving the mechanism of interaction between the State Customs Service and law enforcement agencies. The author substantiates the expediency of including operational units to the list of subjects of operational and investigative activities. The author additionally argues that the prospect of granting customs authorities to conduct pre-trial investigations, and it is proposed to to delimit the powers of the authorities conducting it, for which purpose to determine the jurisdiction of the crime of "Smuggling of goods" for the bodies of the State Customs Service of Ukraine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article analyses the legal mechanisms and tools for combating corruption in the system of law enforcement agencies of Ukraine in the National Police. It is determined that corruption remains a serious problem for the democratic development of Ukraine and undermines public confidence in state institutions. This is especially true of law enforcement agencies, on whose activities public order and security depend. The author emphasises the importance of legal acts regulating the work of the police and implementing anti-corruption measures. The author outlines the key problems in anti-corruption activities, including insufficient internal control, imperfect legislative framework and the need to harmonise it with European standards. Particular attention is paid to the role of such documents as the Law of Ukraine 'On Prevention of Corruption' and the ethical rules of conduct for police officers, which lay the legal basis for the fight against corruption. The introduction of an electronic asset and income declaration system, control over conflicts of interest, and ethical behaviour of police officers are important tools for preventing abuse. Attention is focused on the role of civil society organizations and the media in shaping public control over the activities of law enforcement agencies. Public oversight and openness of the police are critical for increasing public trust and reducing corruption risks. It was determined that the basis for the formation of anti-corruption policy in the National Police is international standards, as well as laws of Ukraine, which determine the principles of corruption prevention. In particular, the role of special anti-corruption bodies that monitor the implementation of legislation and investigate corruption cases is important. Such cooperation between state institutions allows us to create a more effective and coordinated system of c ombating corruption. The author concludes that to effectively combat corruption, it is necessary not only to improve the legislative framework, but also to ensure its proper implementation, through training and raising the legal culture of police officers. Only through a comprehensive approach can we achieve a significant reduction in the level of corruption in the law enforcement sys tem and increase its efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the rapidly advancing information era, various human behaviors are being precisely recorded in the form of data, including identity information, criminal records, and communication data. Law enforcement agencies can effectively maintain social security and precisely combat criminal activities by analyzing the aforementioned data. In comparison to traditional data analysis methods, deep learning models, relying on the robust computational power in cloud centers, exhibit higher accuracy in extracting data features and inferring data. However, within the architecture of cloud centers, the transmission of data from end devices introduces significant latency, hindering real-time inference of data. Furthermore, low-latency edge computing architectures face limitations in direct deployment due to relatively weak computing and storage capacities of nodes. To address these challenges, a lightweight distributed knowledge graph completion architecture is proposed. Firstly, we introduce a lightweight distributed knowledge graph completion architecture that utilizes knowledge graph embedding for data analysis. Subsequently, to filter out substandard data, a personnel data quality assessment method named PDQA is proposed. Lastly, we present a model pruning algorithm that significantly reduces the model size while maximizing performance, enabling lightweight deployment. In experiments, we compare the effects of 11 advanced models on completing the knowledge graph of public security personnel information. The results indicate that the RotatE model outperforms other models significantly in knowledge graph completion, with the pruned model size reduced by 70%, and hits@10 reaching 86.97%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article defines the concept of criminalistic characteristics of illegal employment in fish, game or other water extractive fishing and outlines its main structural elements. The opinions of the leading criminologists regarding the essence of the criminological characteristics are highlighted, and a proper concept was formed based on them. In the course of the study, it was determined that the forensic characterization of illegal employment in fish, game or other water extractive fishing should be understood as an organized collection of forensic information on significant typical features that distinguish the criminal offense provided for in Art. 249 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine from other criminal offenses and determine the system of operative and investigative measures and procedural actions aimed at his detection and the fulfillment of the tasks of criminal proceedings provided for in Art. 2 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine during the investigation. All elements of forensic characteristics are interdependent, the detection of internal connections allows, knowing one element of the criminal offense system, to gain knowledge about some other elements and ultimately to uncover a criminal offense. The content of the forensic characterization should include the features of the methods and traces of the relevant types of criminal offenses, the circumstances characterizing the participants in criminal illegal acts and their illegal connections, the objective side, time, place, conditions of committing criminal offenses, the object of the offense and relationships connection of the listed factors. That is why, the elemental-component structure of the criminalistic characterization of the criminalistic characterization of illegal employment in fish, game or other aquatic extractive industry, as a data system based on the practice of law enforcement agencies and forensic research, includes: 1) the subject of criminal encroachment; 2) the setting of the crime and the trail picture; 3) ways of committing; 4) information about persons who have committed a criminal offense (identity of the offender). The specified elements most accurately reveal the content of forensic characteristics in the process of developing a methodology for investigating illegal fishing, animal or other water extractive fishing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article is devoted to determining the state of legal regulation of the use of means used during control over the commission of a crime. Gaps in the legislation regarding the definition of the concepts «pre-identified (marked) means» and «false (imitation) means» were identified, and own definitions were proposed. It was established that not only objects of the material world can be pre-identified (marked) or false by means of imitation, but also objects of the digital environment. The Criminal Procedural Code of Ukraine (hereinafter referred to as the CPC of Ukraine) does not have norms that would determine the procedure for the use of pre-identified (marked) and false (imitation) means, instead, such norms exist in related laws. Also, the criminal procedural legislation does not specify the characteristics to which the specified means should meet for their use during undercover investigative (search) actions (hereinafter referred to as NSRD). Criteria for the characteristics of pre-identified (marked) and fake (imitation) means are proposed. The article analyzes the practice of using pre-identified (marked) means and fake (imitation) means by law enforcement agencies. Particular attention was paid to the issue of the use of fake (imitation) means as means or cover structures during the undercover investigative (search) actions. It is worth noting that the Criminal Procedural Code of Ukraine of Ukraine, in contrast to other laws that regulate the activities of special services authorized to carry out operative and investigative activities, does not have norms that directly define the right of law enforcement agencies to use fake (imitation) means as means of investigation during a pre-trial investigation or cover structures. Obviously, such a gap also needs to be eliminated. In the opinion of the author, investigators and operational workers during the undercover investigative (search) actions should not invent rules that do not exist, or guess how they should act in a particular situation, based on the practice of operational and investigative activities, but should act exclusively within the limits of the powers granted them by law. Therefore, it is advisable to make appropriate changes to the criminal procedural legislation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article is devoted to issues of international standards for the use of coercive measures by police authorities. It is noted that the main goal of reforming law enforcement agencies in our country, which has chosen the path of European and Euro-Atlantic integration, is to improve their activities by ensuring proper protection of the rights and legitimate interests of citizens, as well as an emphasis on the prevention and prevention of offenses. To achieve this goal, it is important to introduce international standards and practical experience of foreign police bodies into the national legislation of Ukraine, as well as their effective implementation in the practice of law enforcement agencies. This will not only contribute to the development of the rule of law, but will also improve the international image of our country. Attention is focused on the fact that when analyzing international legal documents, it is important to note that in accordance with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment and Punishment, adopted by the UN General Assembly, as well as the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment and Punishment, recognition of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human community is the basis of freedom, justice and universal peace. Since the use of coercive measures by the police affects the protection of human rights and freedoms, police activities should be organized in accordance with the main international standards developed in this direction. It noted that in most of the disputed use-of-force incidents, the officers could not be blamed because their actions were consistent with the specific training they had received. Thus, in the training of US police officers, special attention is paid to training through realistic exercises that reflect the different types of situations that police officers may encounter. It was concluded that the police in the democratic countries of the world focus their activities on ensuring human rights and freedoms through crime prevention, crime prevention and crime fighting, introducing new methods and modern technological means. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article based on the analysis of scientific sources, outlines the features of the use of secret cooperation during the implementation of secret investigative (research) actions in criminal proceedings regarding corruption crimes. It has been established that this tool significantly increases the effectiveness of undercover investigative (search) actions, and the evidence obtained during the implementation of undercover investigative (search) actions in criminal proceedings of the specified category is often of key importance. It was determined that covert cooperation is usually used during the implementation of covert investigative (search) actions typical for the investigated category, in particular, a special investigative experiment (which is often carried out in combination with audio, video monitoring of a person or audio, video monitoring of a place); examination of publicly inaccessible places, housing or other property of a person; observation of a person, thing or place. It is emphasized that another form of confidential cooperation provided for in Art. 275 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine, namely, obtaining (and using) information from such persons, is appropriate for use not only during the conduct of all secret investigative (search) actions, without exception, but also during the conduct of other procedural actions within the framework of a pre-trial investigation. Attention is focused on certain problematic aspects of the use of secret cooperation during pre-trial investigation of corruption crimes, in particular, such as the need for clear legislative regulation of the involvement of so-called «other persons» in the conduct of secret investigative (research) actions; inadmissibility of disclosure of information about persons who carry out confidential cooperation; lack of a unified approach to using of the terms «unspoken cooperation» and «confidential cooperation», which is caused in particular by defects in the legislative regulation of this type of activity of law enforcement agencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article seeks to examine the co-productions of security and emerging technologies in the two contexts of forensic genetics and forensic facial identification. These surfacing co-productions, deemed here as 'forensic biosecurity', are evolving rapidly in both theoretical and practical terms. Definitions and conceptualisations of security are contingent and multiple, impacting forensic biological techniques and innovations in both predictable and unpredictable ways. The military, counter-terrorism, law enforcement, immigration, customs, border patrol, mass disasters, cold case reviews, health, defence, private security, and biometric applications are just a few of the many security environments where forensic biological techniques are applied. The continual development of variations in forensic genetics and facial identification renders a futher blurring of traditional evidence with that of intelligence. Drawing in particular from Joly's (in: S. Hilgartner, C. Miller, and R. Hagendijk (eds) Science and democracy: Making knowledge and making power in the biosciences and beyond, Taylor and Francis, London, 2015) work on emerging technologies, forensic biosecurity is analysed from a science and technology studies (STS) perspective. An emerging technology in the initial stages is thought to be highly flexible with the potential impacts on society and criminal justice being possibly difficult to predict. Once the science and/or technology has become entrenched and mainstream, it may be difficult to change. The enthusiasm portrayed by law enforcement and security agencies regarding emerging technologies, shows that it is important to remain somewhat cautious about the proliferation of these techniques. While such science and technologies appear to be effective and innovative in the present, it is difficult to accurately forecast or predict the future consequences of such innovations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article explores the concept of crime prevention (criminal offenses) in the field of security activities, providing a characterization of the directions and measures of its prevention. Various approaches to understanding these definitions are examined, taking into account the experience of Ukrainian scholars in classifying crime prevention measures. Based on a general theoretical analysis of approaches to understanding the concept of «crime prevention» and defining its content, establishing the main crime prevention measures with their characteristics, as well as studying the system of crime prevention measures (criminal offenses) in the field of security activities and approaches to their classification, the author concludes that crime prevention is a multi-level socio-preventive activity aimed at eliminating and hindering the action of determinants or preventing the commission of acts at various stages of criminal manifestations that lead to the emergence of a certain type of crime, with the aim of ultimately ov ercoming it. The main goal and directions of crime prevention (criminal offenses) in the field of security activities in Ukraine are to create a positive, socially acceptable activity for individuals, introducing into their consciousness a correct, socially recognized understanding of criminal offenses and fostering intolerance towards their commission. General social crime prevention (criminal offenses) in the field of security activities includes a complex of measures conducted by state bodies, public organizations, and other entities aimed at reducing conflicts and stabilizing socio-economic, political, moral-psychological, and legal relations within the state and society. Special criminal crime prevention (criminal offenses) in the field of security activities includes a system of special government agencies that act to influence criminogenic factors, as well as identify the causes and conditions of committing criminal offenses in this sphere and take measures to eliminate them. Individual preventive work in the field of security activities includes early individual prevention, direct individual prevention, and post-criminal prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article analyzes and reveals the concept of state-official legal relations in state authorities in general, and law enforcement agencies in particular, it is emphasized that these legal relations are characterized by specificity and have a direct impact on the development and functioning of the state apparatus, as well as create the basis for the effective implementation by public servants of their direct powers and functions that were delegated to them by society and the state. It is emphasized that in modern legal science, the essence of the definition of «legal relations» lies in the understanding of relations between natural persons, which embody the legal reflection of social, political, economic, family, in some cases, moral, as well as other social relations, which sublimate the process of emergence, change and termination of a social relationship based on legal norms, the participants of which have legal rights and obligations, the observance of which is guaranteed by the state. It was established that there are no clear criteria for belonging of the phenomenon of state-service relations to a specific group of legal norms in the modern legal system. It was established that state-official legal relations are governed by the norms of labor and administrative law according to the main criteria. It was noted that the genesis of public-service legal relations lies in the synthesis of social relations regulated by the current legislation, which are formed with the participation of the state in the personification of its bodies and relevant officials on the one hand, and civil servants - on the other, which are implemented in order to fulfill the tasks and function s of the state services. It is emphasized that state-official legal relations, including in law enforcement agencies, are a phenomenon inherent not only in the field of civil service, the main principles of which are regulated by the Law of Ukraine «On Civil Service», the process of serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine should also be considered as such, the National Guard of Ukraine, the National Police of Ukraine, the Security Service of Ukraine, the Prosecutor's Office and other law enforcement and human rights protection bodies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article deals with the issues of prospects for increasing the level of protection of interests in the field of customs security of Ukraine, including through the expansion of institutional capacity of the Sta Customs Service in the field of law enforcement. The author analyses the existing functional powers of customs authorities in the field of combating criminal offences related to illegal movement of goods and items across the border. The current state and mechanisms of implementation of measures to combat smuggling and other crimes at the border are investigated. The importance of granting domestic customs authorities the right to carry out operational and search activities and conduct pre-trial investigations in smuggling cases is considered in detail. It is noted that after the entry into force of amendments to the legislation criminalising smuggling of goods, almost all law enforcement agencies in Ukraine, except for customs, have the authority to counter smuggling. At the same time, they are the only ones who can directly detect the facts of concealment of goods, objects and substances from customs control or movement outside customs control. The author emphasises that the customs administrations of almost all European countries have the powers of criminal prosecution and the right to conduct operational and investigative actions, which significantly increases the effectiveness of combating such crimes. Accordingly, without similar powers, the customs service of our country cannot count on a full partnership. The author emphasises the requirements and recommendations of the World Customs Organisation regarding the formation of institutional capacities of national customs administrations with the inclusion of the widest possible and unified range of law enforcement functions in their powers. The expansion of procedural powers will enable the Ukrainian customs service to become an equal partner in the interaction and exchange of intelligence with similar services of other countries in the fight against commercial fraud and drug trafficking. It is emphasised that the ability to detect illegal acts related to smuggling of goods, including through the use of operational and investigative measures, will enable customs authorities to ensure prompt and high-quality investigation of criminal offences and prosecution of both direct perpetrators and organisers of crimes. Ways of implementing international standards in the field of law enforcement procedures to strengthen border security are highlighted. An additional argument for the expansion of such opportunities is that the prospect of membership in the European Union imposes on Ukraine the task of protecting not only its own customs interests, but also the eastern borders of the EU as a whole. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article is devoted to one of the defining issues of the effectiveness of combating the violation of anti-corruption legislation. The importance of active participation of citizens in various measures to counter corruption offenses and offenses related to corruption is substantiated. It is emphasized that, regardless of the legal framework and system of law enforcement agencies in Ukraine, only the response to the facts of individual corruption offenses takes place in total. The condition of systemic influence on criminogenic factors in this sphere of social relations can only be the formation of intolerance to corruption in society, the establishment of a culture of integrity and respect for the rule of law, combined with an active civil position regarding corruption manifestations. It is emphasized that anti-corruption education, including general secondary and higher levels of education and other legal education measures, should play an important role in the formation of intolerance to any manifestations of corruption. It is noted that the human and material resources of the specially authorized anti-corruption bodies are now sufficient only for periodic and episodic detection and documentation of illegal facts of corruption and corruption-related offenses. Work at the preventive level to identify corruption risks and prevent violations of anti-corruption legislation is not sufficiently effective without the active involvement of broad strata and social groups of the population in this activity. It is claimed that the role of a leader in the issues of forming intolerance to corruption in society, establishing a culture of integrity and respect for the rule of law should be performed by the state, but practically such activity is doomed to remain only a slogan without consolidation of the efforts of the entire population. A general conclusion is made that combating corruption will be effective only under the condition of symbiosis of educational, preventive and repressive activities of specially authorized anti-corruption entities and a consolidated society, in which the population (individual citizens of Ukraine) should act as both a subject and an object of joint activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Vibrational spectroscopy combined with machine learning has a great potential for forensic applications. For example, handheld Raman spectroscopic instruments are already used by law enforcement agencies for precise, confirmatory identification of drugs. Beyond drug identification, several emerging technologies based on vibrational spectroscopy are currently under development for forensic investigative purposes, including the analysis of questioned documents, gunshot residue, fabrics, soil, hair, nails, and nail polish. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the application of vibrational spectroscopy in various areas of forensic analysis, particularly focusing on forensic serology and the analysis of trace evidences. In the case of forensic serology, the methodology allows for determining complex aspects of serological casework, including the time since deposition of a stain, as well as the phenotypic profile of the stain donor—namely, sex, race, and age. Furthermore, gunshot residues can be accurately identified by grain, caliber, and manufacturer when Raman spectroscopy is paired with machine learning. This integration of advanced spectroscopic techniques with machine learning holds great promise for furthering both the accuracy and efficiency of investigations, helping to reduce the total backlog of evidence investigation currently plaguing modern forensic laboratories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To better serve people with mental illness (PWMI), law enforcement agencies have considered programmatic alternatives to arrest, transport, or informal guidance. The police-clinician, co-responder model represents one such approach that promises cost-saving deflections. This study examines a co-responder program led by specially trained police officers and mental health professionals embedded in the New Castle County Division of Police (NCCPD). It evaluates program impacts and cost savings from diversions from hospitalization and formal criminal processing. Results show that NCCPD’s Behavioral Health Unit contributed to a growing average number of confirmed connections to care per quarter. Diversions from the emergency room (n = 97) and incarceration (n = 120) contributed to cost savings of $2.8 million since the program’s inception, or over a quarter million dollars per quarter. Findings highlight the ability of co-responder models to successfully divert PWMI out of health and justice systems while diminishing associated costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractMental Health First Aid (MHFA) is an 8-h curriculum conducted in various communities to improve mental health literacy. Given the high rates of suicide among law enforcement professionals and the frequency of interactions between police and corrections officers with the severely mentally ill, mental health literacy is a relevant concept for the law enforcement field. This study examined the effectiveness of MHFA in improving mental health literacy in a small sample (n = 56) of law enforcement employees. A preexperimental one-group posttest-only design using nonprobability convenience sampling was used to analyze secondary data from courses taught by the author. The sample was comprised of law enforcement officers in various law enforcement agencies, including community police departments and corrections employees. Based on the posttest, the course improves participants’ confidence in recognizing signs of mental illness, asking about suicide, being aware of personal views, and assisting people in obtaining support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the science of the criminal process, there is no unified vision of the essence of a person's legitimate interests and guarantees of their provision at the stage of pre-trial investigation. Ensuring a legitimate interest at the stage of pre-trial criminal proceedings is not supported by the performance of duties by other participants. An effective guarantee of the realization of a person's legitimate interests in pre-trial criminal proceedings should be the real possibility of going to court to challenge the decisions, actions or inaction of law enforcement agencies. The presence of such a legal possibility should stimulate law enforcement agencies to take active actions aimed at satisfying legitimate interests. The criminal procedural law must provide for a mechanism to protect the legal interests of a person, both those that directly follow from the criminal procedural norms and those that are not provided for by the criminal procedural law, but are consistent with the spirit and principles of criminal justice. It can be argued that the legitimate interests of a person in pre-trial criminal proceedings are general legal and not prohibited aspirations of a person. Ensuring the legal interests of a person at the pre-trial stage of the criminal process should be ensured by a general obligation (general obligation) to take active actions by state bodies aimed at ensuring legal interests. The guarantee of the realization of the legal interests of a person in pre-trial criminal proceedings is the legal regulation in the criminal procedural law of the procedure for judicial appeal of decisions, actions or inaction of law enforcement bodies (including pre-trial investigation bodies) that prevent the realization of general legal aspirations of a person at the pre-trial stage of criminal proceedings. The need for regulatory regulation of the procedure for judicial protection of legitimate interests is determined by their legal nature, which provides for regularities in the actions of the participants of criminal proceedings of an undefined nature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The scientific article is dedicated to the study of international and foreign practices of compensation for war crimes. The article analyzes legal mechanisms and tools used for compensating victims of war crimes in various countries of Europe and the world. The main focus is on the practice of international courts, such as the International Criminal Court (ICC), as well as national judicial institutions that handle war crime cases. Specific cases and decisions that have influenced the development of law enforcement practices in this area are examined. One of the key aspects of the work is the analysis of international treaties and conventions that regulate compensation issues, including the Convention on the Non-Applicability of Statutory Limitations to War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity, as well as the Rome Statute of the ICC. Various compensation models are considered, including monetary compensation, rehabilitation, and other forms of reparation. The article also explores the role of non-governmental organizations and international funds in the process of compensating war crime victims. The effectiveness of different approaches and mechanisms used to ensure justice and restore the rights of victims is ana lyzed. The work pays attention to the problems and challenges faced by law enforcement agencies when handling war crime cases, as well as the prospects for improving the international legal mechanism for protecting the rights of victims. The research is based on the analysis of specific cases, court decisions, and legal acts, allowing conclusions to be drawn about the current state and possible ways of developing the compensation system for war crimes. Thus, the article contributes to the scientific discussion on improving the mechanisms of legal protection for victims of war crimes and ensuring justice in in ternational law. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Constitution of Ukraine, the Criminal Code of Ukraine, the rule of law, p. According to the study of this direction, various scientists paid a lot of attention to the study of the problems of official criminal offenses and the use of special knowledge in general. However, no monographic scientific research has been carried out in Ukraine, which would combine scientific assets in the direction of special knowledge and official falsification and would reflect a comprehensive approach to the mentioned issues, despite the undoubted relevance of this topic and the need for practice, 89.6% of the respondents testified to the need for a comprehensive study of it. And although combating corruption was identified as one of the state's priority areas, law enforcement agencies have difficulties in proving official forgery, which actualizes the need to highlight the possibilities of using special knowledge during the investigation of such facts. So, based on the experience of scientists, practical workers, taking into account changes in legislation and the specifics of official criminal offenses, we made an attempt to investigate the origins of the development of scientific opinion on official forgery, the possibilities of using special knowledge during their investigation, and to determine the main directions for improving their investigation. The closest to the topic of our research is the organization and tactics of the investigation of official forgery, which highlights: the content of the forensic characteristics of official forgery, its elements, such as the methods of committing the crime, the identity of the criminal, the object of the crime, a typical investigative picture; correlational dependencies between the elements of the forensic characteristics of official forgeries were revealed; types of methods of counteracting the investigation of official forgery in modern conditions (refusal to issue documents, items requested by the investigator, limiting the investigator's access to information, refusal to provide samples for comparative research, influence on the investigator, in particular with the help of a defense attorney), the means of overcoming them are outlined; classification of means of investigative verification of information on the detection of signs of official forgery; the classification of circumstances to be established during the investigation of official forgeries, namely: general circumstances characteristic of the investigation of crimes in general, and special circumstances - the fact that the forged document belongs to an official one, the type and method of document forgery, the connection of the forged document with others and the consequences, that arose in connection with the validity of the document, etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article analyzes the links between the basic principles of criminal law of Ukraine and the principles governing criminal law protection of professional activities of law enforcement agencies. Special attention is paid to the study of interaction and impact of these principles on law enforcement. The author refers to the contributions of national scholars who have studied the nature of certain principles of criminal law and offers a systematic analysis for further improvement of the regulatory framework. The author emphasizes that modern changes in criminal law should reflect not only historical experience, but also modern challenges that require a deeper understanding and application of the principles of justice, legality, humanism and democracy. The author also emphasizes the need to enshrine the principles in the new edition of the Criminal Code of Ukraine in order to comply with international standards and ensure legal certainty and objectivity of law enforcement. According to the author, there is a need for greater clarity and systematization of the principles of criminal law, and their inclusion in the Criminal Code will help ensure greater transparency and effic iency in their application. The author of the article emphasizes the importance of the principles of criminal law proposed by P.L. Fries, which form the basis for criminal law protection of professional activities of law enforcement agencies, but also emphasizes the possibility of their expansion. In particular, the author proposes new articles for the Criminal Code of Ukraine which include the principles of legality, equality before the law, guilt, justice, individualization of punishment, personal nature of responsibility, humanism, and inevitability of responsibility. The author comes to the conclusion that the principles of criminal law protection of the professional activities of law enforcement agencies are based on constitutional and criminal law principles. The basic principles such as the rule of law, justice, equality before the law, individualization of punishment, and inevitability of liability form the structure of protection of law enforcement officers' rights. An analysis of the principles which are repeated in constitutional and special criminal provisions shows that it is inappropriate to allocate separate principles for law enforcement officers. The author proposes a two-tier system of principles for effective criminal law protection which avoids duplication of categories and ensures systematic and rational law application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article highlights the issue of the increase in the number of cases of domestic violence known to law enforcement agencies. Factors affecting the increase of legal awareness of citizens and encouraging them to take decisive actions for zero tolerance to various types of violence in families are analyzed in detail. We analyzed the changes in the legislation of Ukraine, which became the driving force for the fight against domestic violence, the protection of victims and the punishment of offenders. An important step for this was the introduction of amendments to the Criminal Code of Ukraine and the addition of Article 126-1 "Domestic violence". At the same time, an important factor in the formation of public awareness of the inadmissibility of domestic violence is the activity of public organizations, public figures, the media community, and mass media. The trend of increasing the level of legal culture of the individual in terms of zero tolerance for the actions of offenders is being followed. Society increasingly does not tolerate violence and strives for justice. It also shows that the legal culture of the individual is growing, people respect the law more and more and understand the importance of human rights. The connection is investigated, according to which increasing the level of awareness of citizens about their rights and about the possibilities of protection against violence leads to an increase in the number of appeals to the police and restoration of their rights by legal means. It has been proven that people seek help more and more often, knowing that they have su pport from the state. The number of sentences contained in the Unified State Register of Court Decisions for domestic violence in the period 2020-2024 is analyzed. It has been studied that the increase in the number of sentences for committing domestic violence is directly proportional to the increase in the level of legal culture of the individual and society. This fact confirms the opinion, however, that domestic violence is gradually leaving the category of latent crimes and victims are no longer ready to put up with violence in fami lies. It was concluded that the development of legal culture in this context means that people not only know about the inadmissibility of violence, but also realize the importance of observing laws and actively participating in the fight against this problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Control is explained as a systematic verification of the implementation of laws, directives, resolutions and decrees or as state or public measures for the supervision, inspection, accounting of the activities, behavior of natural and legal persons, i.e. control is an inspection in order to ensure the reliability and legality of the actions specified and the process of tracking the actual implementation of plans. Unfortunately, the legal reference literature and the current legislation of Ukraine do not contain a unified approach to the definition of the legal content of the term «control». The Encyclopedia of Law, for example, defines «control» (French controle – check, from Old French contre-role – a list with a duplicate for verification) – as verification of the implementation of laws, decisions, etc. The article examines the place of the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine in the system of bodies exercising control in the sphere of banking activity. It is determined that state control is one of the main functions (forms, methods) of public administration. The degree of efficiency of state control, despite the sphere of its implementation, is mainly determined by the quality of legal support of control activities, a certain level of socio-economic and logistical support of state control bodies, the level of mobility and balance of the system of control bodies. It is the balanced construction of the system of state control bodies that is an important prerequisite for the successful functioning of the entire system of state bodies. Analyzing the variety of laws and by-laws, as well as scientific literature on the issue of subjects of control in the sphere of banking activity, it is determined that control over the activities of banking institutions is a complex system, which has two main directions: external control and internal control. Subjects of banking control can be represented both externally (by state and independent regulatory authorities) and internally. The subjects of banking control by the state include: the Accounting Chamber of Ukraine, Control Departments under the Administration of the President of Ukraine, the State Financial Inspection of Ukraine, the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine, the National Bank of Ukraine, the State Fiscal Service of Ukraine, the State Treasury Service of Ukraine, the State Property Fund of Ukraine, state extra-budgetary funds (such as the Pension Fund of Ukraine), the National Securities and Stock Market Commission, law enforcement agencies and others in accordance with the current legislation. Independent audit firms act as subjects of independent control, and the subjects of internal control are the Supervisory Board, the Audit Commission, the Management Board (Board of Directors), functional divisions of the bank, and its internal audit service. The article thoroughly covers the functions of the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine of control in the sphere of banking activity, its important role and importance. The article defines the main functions assigned to the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine by the current legislation of Ukraine. On the basis of the study, it is established that in case of violation of the current legislation, material and operationaleconomic liability is provided for business entities in general, and banks in particular. When writing the article, on the basis of the studied material, it is established that the common type of operational and economic sanctions applied by the authorities are: cancellation of licenses and termination of foreign economic operations. And in case of abuse of monopoly position in the market, the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine has the right to adopt a resolution on the forced division of monopoly formations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The urgency of researching this topic is one of the most urgent for Ukrainian society and law enforcement agencies. At this stage, Ukraine is not only about the struggle for independence, for values, Ukraine is primarily about development and innovation. A fairly basic and fundamental vector or direction of the country for guaranteeing human and citizen rights, as well as ensuring a safe environment, has been established. Ratification and adoption of international acts in the field of human rights and freedoms is a step towards increasing the level of protection of citizens’ rights, first of all it shows the country’s responsibility and obligation to meet international standards. Quite often, during the performance of tasks of maintaining public order and fighting crime, police officers, in addition to establishing the facts of crimes, must carry out proper communication, especially with persons who have mental disorders, such as autism (ASD). It is quite interesting that the issue of autism in Ukraine is not new, but it is not sufficiently researched. Especially in the law enforcement system. This article is aimed at theoretical research and coverage of the problem of barrier-freeness in the activities of the National Police of Ukraine during communication with persons who have mental disorders. The work analyzes the foreign experience of the concept of autism in the context of police work and the peculiarities of interaction with persons with various mental disorders. The principles and methods of ensuring unimpeded access to police services and measures aimed at improving the effectiveness of communication with this category of persons are considered. This study aims to determine the optimal strategies of police interaction with persons with mental disorders in order to ensure safety and protect their rights. On the basis of theoretical research, practical recommendations will be offered regarding the training of police officers in the skills of communication and interaction with this audience in order to improve the quality of service to persons with mental disorders in the activities of the National Police of Ukraine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT: Context: Child abuse and neglect can be described as all kinds of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, neglect, commercial and/or any other type of exploitation resulting in any potential of causing hurt or an actual form of harm to a child's general health, growth, survival, and dignity. The dentist is in a position to identify physical signs of physical abuse in a child hence, it is important to gauge the knowledge level and perception regarding child abuse and neglect. Aim: The aim of the present study was to ascertain the knowledge, attitude, and experience regarding child abuse and neglect among dentists in India. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional, descriptive, survey-based study was conducted on 100 dental practitioners all over India using a pre-validated questionnaire. The study was approved by the institutional ethics committee. Responses received were recorded in an Excel Worksheet and analyzed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square statistical tool using SPSS software (version 21.0). Results: We found that 85% of respondents reported child abuse cases of a physical and sexual nature and 87% had knowledge that law enforcement agencies are responsible for reporting such cases. Also, 56% believed that such cases could be reported using electronic mail while other sources were telephone, letters, or personal intervention. Only 12% were fearful of litigation and 24% were concerned about such exposure to a child. Conclusion: A total of 11% of dentists experienced barriers in reporting such cases while 17% reported with no barriers. Child abuse and neglect are often underreported due to various reasons. This survey has attempted to assess the knowledge, attitude, and experience about child abuse and neglect and has found a few prominent reasons for not reporting such incidents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data makes the world go round. Now more than ever, routine police work depends on the collection and analysis of digital information. Law enforcement agencies possess vast sums of intel on who we are, where we go, and what we do. The proliferation of digital technology has transformed federal criminal procedure—from how police investigate crimes to how prosecutors prove them at trial. Courts and commentators have written much about the first part, but less so about the second. Together, they represent two sides of the same problem: constitutional doctrine lagging behind new technology, leading to suboptimal constraints on law enforcement conduct. This Note explores the effects of digital technology on the nature and scope of federal prosecutors’ disclosure obligations under Brady v. Maryland. As police pass along more data to prosecutors—usually terabytes at a time—prosecutors face the difficult task of sifting through mountains of evidence to determine what is exculpatory or otherwise favorable to the defense. Often, prosecutors turn over their entire case file, knowing full well that defense counsel will fare no better. This state of affairs puts our adversarial system on shaky ground. This Note urges district courts to exercise greater oversight of the discovery process, requiring prosecutors to take reasonable precautions so exculpatory evidence comes to light. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The use of high‐potency cannabis products is associated with an increased risk of mental disorders. This study investigates whether the rising THC concentration in Germany is associated with an increase in cannabis‐related diagnoses. Methods: The number of insured persons with at least one cannabis‐related ICD‐10 F12 diagnosis (e.g., harmful use, dependence) in outpatient care was provided by statutory health insurance funds between 2009 and 2021. The dependent variable is the ratio of (a) the number of insured persons with at least one F12 diagnosis to (b) all insured persons who have used cannabis in the last year. Information on THC concentration in cannabis flower was provided by law enforcement agencies. Using generalised mixed linear models, the dependent variable was predicted by the median THC concentration in cannabis flower. Results: The regression results show that an increase in THC concentration by one percentage point is significantly associated with an increase in the proportion of diagnoses (women: +0.17; men: +0.42). THC concentration positively predicted the proportion of diagnoses in all 16 federal states for men and in 15 federal states for women. Discussion and Conclusions: Compared to low‐potency products, using high‐potency products may pose additional health risks, which may be particularly pronounced in men. Acknowledging the limitations of the ecological study design and uncertainties inherent to the analysed data, further investigations on the sex‐specific impact of THC exposure are required. Limiting the THC concentration in cannabis products and closely monitoring THC consumption in the population appears necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The latest information technologies aimed at accelerating the pace of innovation in the methodology of regulatory and legal research and criminal justice are priority elements of improving the quality of implementation of cyberspace components in the activities of law enforcement agencies in Ukraine and worldwide. The globalisation of the use of innovative technological processes, skills and methods ‒ and, most importantly, the increased implementation of organisational and legal aspects of electronic document management in the work of law enforcement agencies ‒ contributes to the manifestation of possible challenges and obstacles that reorganise the activities of competent authorities and controlled institutions. This research explores the use of innovative technologies in criminal procedural law, making a significant contribution to understanding how innovations can change the approach to justice and promote the development of a more fair and efficient judicial process in the future. The increasing complexity of criminal scenarios demands innovative approaches, upon which the effectiveness of justice and the protection of human rights depend. The article provides justification for modern technological solutions such as artificial intelligence, data analytics, biometric technologies, and the use of big data, and their potential in the criminal process. Emphasis is placed on the opportunities to improve access to justice, accelerate judicial procedures, and enhance trust in the judicial system. Potential risks and challenges accompanying the implementation of innovative technologies in the criminal procedural sphere, including issues of data confidentiality and the possibility of technology misuse, are also addressed. Through in-depth analysis, the research aims to highlight prospects for further development in the use of innovative technologies in the field of criminal procedural law and to deepen understanding of their impact on contemporary legal practice. The purpose of the research is to make a dialectical and identification definition of innovative technologies in criminal procedural law. Comprehensive knowledge of the factors that determine the development of regulatory restrictions on the implementation and monitoring of the practice of introducing artificial intelligence in the national jurisdiction (criminal justice) and other sovereign political and territorial organisations of society. Identification of the most essential features and peculiarities of the internal structure of the interactive information environment (virtual space), which combines communication systems with electronic forms of digital data transmission to improve integration links between law enforcement agencies and executive structures of public administration. Formulation of conclusions and proposals based on the results of the research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amidst globalisation, tourism industry has emerged as a huge revenue source for different countries across the globe, most especially in the developed world. Nigeria is one of the developing countries that are yet to fully tap their tourism potentials, due to many socio-political factors. Beyond undermining the country's quest for economic diversification, fallow tourist attractions across the country hypothetically negate internal safety and security, hence the need for empirical researches to inform policy interventions. This study specifically focused on Zuma Rock (in Niger state) to examine the relationship between the rock's physical surrounding and criminal occurrences, analyse the feeling of safety among the residents of communities surrounding it, and establish the extent of their confidence in the formal agencies of social control. The study utilised area life cycle model to view the place of the rock in relation to other developed tourist sites, which shows it remains at the first stage of tourism development. Further, insight was drawn from defensible space theory to analyse the relationship between the rock's physical environment and crime. A mixed-methods approach involving quantitative and qualitative data was adopted for the study. A total of 304 respondents across five communities surrounding the rock were randomly selected for questionnaire administration, and additional 80 were judgementally selected for a total of 10 FGD sessions—two in each of the five selected communities. In light of the area life cycle and defensible space framework, the study found that failure to develop a notable tourist attraction breeds crime. It is also found that the study population live in fear due to the prevalence of violent crimes in the rock's vicinity, and their lack of confidence in formal law enforcement agents. It is therefore recommended that government should prioritise the development of the destination while making effort to strengthen the law enforcement agencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the relationship between demographic factors and attitudes toward criminal justice funding in the United States. Specifically, we explore responses from two years of data from the United States General Social Survey, both prior to and after the dramatic events of 2020, during which reformers called for a reduction in funding for law enforcement agencies as a response to high-profile incidents of police violence. We find that while certain demographic traits align with previous understandings of public attitudes toward police funding, the relationship between gender and these attitudes presents a notable exception; race appears less predictive than expected. Additionally, the impact of racially prejudiced views on opinions about law enforcement funding has grown more pronounced over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Much research on shootings by police has focused on urban jurisdictions, but most U.S. law enforcement agencies are not located in cities. Prior research suggests that rates of fatal shootings by police are comparable between urban and nonurban areas. Yet, shooting characteristics across the urban–rural continuum are unknown. This study describes and compares fatal and nonfatal injurious shootings by officers in U.S. urban, suburban, and rural areas from 2015 to 2020. Characteristics of fatal and nonfatal injurious shootings by police were abstracted from Gun Violence Archive. In 2023–2024, using ZIP-code and county-based rurality designations, the national distribution, incidence, and characteristics of injurious shootings by police were compared across urban, suburban, and rural areas of the U.S. Rates of injurious shootings in rural areas approached or exceeded those of urban rates. As rurality increased, proportionately more injurious shootings involved single responders, sheriffs, or multiple agency types. Across the urban–rural continuum, characteristics of precipitating incidents were similar. Injurious shootings were most frequently preceded by domestic violence incidents, traffic stops, or shots-fired reports; co-occurring behavioral health needs were common. After accounting for local demographic differences, Black, indigenous, and Hispanic residents were injured at higher rates than White residents in all examined areas. Shootings by police represent an overlooked and inequitable source of injury in rural areas. Broadly similar incident characteristics suggest potential for wide-reaching reforms. To prevent injuries, crisis prevention, dispatch, and response systems must assure proportionate rural-area coverage. In addition, legislative prevention and accountability measures should include sheriffs' offices for optimal rural-area impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tracing the origin of digital images is a crucial concern in digital image forensics, where accurately identifying the source of an image is essential that leads important clues to investing and law enforcement agencies. Photo Response Non-Uniformity (PRNU) based camera attribution is an effective forensic tool for identifying the source camera of a crime scene image. The PRNU pattern approach helps investigators determine whether a specific camera captured a crime scene image using the Pearson correlation coefficient between the unique camera fingerprint and the PRNU noise. However, this approach raises privacy concerns as the camera fingerprint or the PRNU noise can be linked to non-crime images taken by the camera, potentially disclosing the photographer's identity. To address this issue, we propose a novel PRNU-based source camera attribution scheme that enables forensic investigators to conduct criminal investigations while preserving privacy. In the proposed scheme, a camera fingerprint extracted from a set of known images and PRNU noise extracted from the anonymous image are divided into multiple shares using Shamir's Secret Sharing (SSS). These shares are distributed to various cloud servers where correlation is computed on a share basis between the camera fingerprint and the PRNU noise. The partial correlation values are combined to obtain the final correlation value, determining whether the camera took the image. The security analysis and the experimental results demonstrate that the proposed scheme not only preserves privacy and ensures data confidentiality and integrity, but also is computationally efficient compared to existing methods. Specifically, the results showed that our scheme achieves similar accuracy in source camera attribution with a negligible decrease in performance compared to non-privacy-preserving methods and is computationally less expensive than state-of-the-art schemes. Our work advances research in image forensics by addressing the need for accurate source identification and privacy protection. The privacy-preserving approach is beneficial for scenarios where protecting the identity of the photographer is crucial, such as in whistleblower cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Not least since the brutal killing of Saudi journalist and regime-critic Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi embassy in Istanbul in late 2018 has the question of transnational repression emerged on the agendas of human rights activists, policy makers, and scholars of migration and authoritarianism. Such practices are commonly conceptualized as a dyadic interaction between repressor and repressed. However, on closer inspection, the dyad is, in fact, a triad. Relatively few studies account for or explore the context in which such acts of transnational repression occur: the countries of residence in which targets and victims reside. Taking inspiration from the problematization framework, this article deepens our understanding of the complex and multifaceted ways in which Sweden, a country often lauded for its comprehensive approach and response to transnational repression, has constructed "refugee espionage" as a challenge not only for law enforcement and intelligence agencies but also, Swedish bilateral relations and sovereignty. Through an in-depth analysis of 21 annual reports published by the Swedish Security Service (SÄPO), the article shows how the conceptualization and problematization of the issue has – often in response to particular incidents – become both broader and wider over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sketch face recognition has recently gained significant attention in the field of computer vision due to its ability to quickly identify matched pairs of optical and sketch images. This technology has the potential to greatly improve the efficiency of law enforcement agencies in criminal investigations. However, there are still challenges that need to be addressed in sketch face recognition algorithms, such as modal differences and limited sample sizes. To overcome these issues, this study proposes a Residual Serialized Cross Grouping Transformer (RSCGT), which contains a residual serialized module to reduce the computation complexity, a two-layer Cross Grouping Transformer module that is capable of extracting modality-invariant context features, a domain adaptive module to mitigate the impact of modal differences. Additionally, we introduce a meta-learning training strategy to augment the generalization ability of this model. Experimental results demonstrate that the RSCGT achieves high accuracy in sketch face recognition tasks, even with small-scale datasets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Purpose] The purpose of the article was to study digital forensics, its role in the Kazakh legal system and the process of investigating cybercrime. [Methodology] Analysis, synthesis, comparison, deduction, generalization, abstraction, formal legal methods of scientific research were used. [Findings] A result, it was proved that forensics is an indispensable component of the future development of forensic science in Kazakhstan. It has been established that digital forensics enables speeding up the process of solving cybercrimes, as well as determining their sources and prerequisites. Thus, on the basis of forensics, it is possible not only to identify the problem, but also to form a mechanism for overcoming it in the future. This determines the priority of professional training of forensic experts for future work with digital evidence, traces and their use in the trial. In addition, the areas of activity of law enforcement agencies has been established, in which forensics plays an important role and is mandatory for use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: A medico-legal case is a case of injury or illness where the attending doctor, after eliciting history and examining the patient, thinks that some investigation by law enforcement agencies is essential to establish and fix responsibility for the case in accordance with the law of the land. Medico-legal cases are an integral part of medical practice that is frequently encountered by medical officers working in emergency department. Aims and Objectives: To analyze the pattern of medico-legal cases presented to the casualty at Sri Madhusudan Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research. Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective study of medico-legal cases registered in a casualty of Sri Madhusudan Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Muddenahalli, chikkaballapura, Karnataka for a period of one year from1st Janaury2023 to 31st December 2023. Results: Of the 218 cases, 171 were men and 47 were women with RTA constituting 66.05% (144 cases) of the cases and poisoning with 08.71% (19 cases) of the cases forming most of the case profile. Conclusion: The Casualty of Sri Madhusudan Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research deals with a reasonable number of MLCs due to the large semi urban to rural population and easy accessibility from nearby areas. The clinical forensic medicine branch should be developed well to deal with MLC documentation for the administration of proper justice in the court of law at a later stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Terrorism financing poses a direct threat to South Africa's national security as well as the integrity and reputation of its financial system. Terrorism financing has the potential to finance and enable terrorist activities locally and abroad. Over and above posing a security threat, it also impacts the integrity of non-financial institutions such as charities and non-profit organizations which could be exploited, often unwittingly, for the financing of terrorism. Terrorist groups make use of multiple methods to raise move, store and/or use funds and exploit the inherent vulnerabilities of countries' regulatory, financial, law enforcement and security frameworks. Their techniques vary and depend on the sophistication and objectives of terrorists, terrorist organizations and their sympathizers. Terrorism financing investigations are usually extremely complex, particularly with regard to the identification of financiers and ultimate end-users of the generated funds. This is due to the myriad financial transaction mediums such as cash and crypto assets, the international nature of transfers between financial jurisdictions, the informal financial sector (e.g. Hawala), as well as the capacity and capability challenges faced by financial institutions, regulators, supervisory bodies and law enforcement agencies. Funds intended for terrorism related activities may be derived from legitimate as well as from illicit sources, making terrorism financing particularly difficult to detect, disrupt and prevent. The constant evolution of terrorism financing methods in response to new and increasingly sophisticated countermeasures remains a continual challenge locally and for international financial oversight bodies such as the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and its regional-style bodies. This paper will investigate and assess South Africa's vulnerability to terrorism financing and the counter-terrorist financing framework to effectively combat terrorism financing. The key issues to be appraised include an assessment of factors that contribute to SA's vulnerability to terrorism financing. A counter-terrorist financing framework adopted by SA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Automatic license plate recognition (ALPR) technology has gained widespread use in many countries, including India. With the explosion in the number of vehicles plying over the roads in the past few years, automating the process of documenting vehicle license plates for use by law enforcement agencies and traffic management authorities has great significance. There have been various advancements in the object detection, object tracking, and optical character recognition domain but integrated pipelines for ALPR in Indian scenarios are a rare occurrence. This paper proposes an architecture that can track vehicles across multiple frames, detect number plates and perform optical character recognition (OCR) on them. A dataset consisting of Indian vehicles for the detection of oblique license plates is collected and a framework to increase the accuracy of OCR using the data across multiple frames is proposed. The proposed system can record license plate readings of vehicles averaging 527.99 and 2157.09 ms per frame using graphics processing unit (GPU) and central processing unit (CPU) respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]