Author

Kornakova S.V.

Title of article

Procedural autonomy  of investigator: problems of implementation

Section

Section 9. Improving law enforcement practice

Issue, year

1 (43) 2018

Abstract

 The article is devoted to the analysis of the investigator’s powers from the point of view of their conformity with the declared procedural autonomy of this participant in criminal  proceedings. The author critically evaluates the reform of the Russian criminal procedure legislation, the result of which was a significant infringement of both procedural autonomy and independence of the investigator. The excessive guardianship over the investigator’s procedural activities in the form of the departmental control, prosecutor’s supervision and judicial review serves as a basis for reducing the initiative of the investigator. The powers of the head of the investigative body, restricting the procedural independence of the investigator, are particularly critically estimated. According to the author’s opinion, the task of the head of the investigative body should be to organize the work of the investigator and to provide methodical and resource support of the investigation process. It is argued that the dependent position of the investigator contradicts the legislation and creates conditions for reducing his (her) personal responsibility for the decisions taken in the course of criminal proceedings. It is concluded that ensuring the procedural autonomy of the investigator is a necessary condition for the proper provision of timely and legal criminal proceedings. Improvement of criminal procedure legislation should go towards reducing the investigator’s decisions that require the approval of the head of the investigative body.

Keywords

 investigator; procedural autonomy; prosecutor; head of the investigative body.

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