According to the Regulation for the Main Forensic Centre of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine (No. 617 of 11.08.2010) by the Administration of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, the Main Forensic Centre of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine is a state specialised institution which according to Part 2, Article 7 of the Law of Ukraine – On Forensic Examination – is an expert service of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine intended to prevent, detect and investigate criminal and other offenses using forensic techniques for conducting forensic examinations and expert research of the documents required by legislation to cross the state border of Ukraine.​

Structure

• Headquarters

• Department of Document Examination

• Department of Scientific and Methodological Processes

• Department of Information and Analytics

• Department of Expert Forensic Records

• Records Storage Section

• Department of Expert Support for the Western Regional Directorate of the State Border Guard Service (Lviv)

• Department of Expert Support for the Southern Regional Directorate of the State Border Guard Service (Odesa)

• Expert Support Group – Zakarpattia

• Expert Support Group – Halychyna

Regulatory and Legal Framework for Expert Forensic Activity

The regulatory and legal framework regarding expert forensic activity in Ukraine is determined by the following articles of state and related orders and publications:

• The Constitution of Ukraine

• The Criminal Code of Ukraine

• The Law of Ukraine – On the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine

• The Law of Ukraine – On Forensic Examination

• The Ministry of Justice of Ukraine Order (No. 53/5 of 08.10.1998) – On Approval of the Instruction on Appointment and Conduct of Forensic Examinations, Scientific and Methodological Recommendations on Preparation and Appointment of Forensic Examinations and Expert Research, registered with the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine 03.11.1998 under No. 705/3145

• The Administration of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine Order (No. 617 of 11.08. 2010) – On Approval of the Regulation for the Main Forensic Centre of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, registered with the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine 02.09.2010 under No. 770/18065

• The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Order (No. 1109 of 18.11.2013) – On Approval of the Instruction on the Procedure for Conducting Forensic Examination and Expert Research of Passport Documents by the Main Forensic Centre of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, registered with the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine 09.12.2013 under No. 2086/24618

• The Administration of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine Order (No. 891 of 23.11.2010) – On Approval of the Regulation for the Expert Qualification Commission and Certification of Forensic Experts of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, registered with the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine 10.12.2010 under No. 1246/18541

Legal Status of a Forensic Expert

According to the Law of Ukraine – On Forensic Examination, forensic experts for the state’s specialised institutions are specialists who have the relevant higher education qualifications: an educational qualification not lower than specialist, have undergone appropriate training and have obtained qualifications in the relevant specialisms associated with the forensic expert role.

A forensic expert may be held liable for the incorrect compliance with the disciplinary, material, administrative or legal requirements of the role on the grounds and in the manner prescribed by law.

Forensic examinations and expert research are carried out by forensic experts certified in accordance with the current legislation, who have received the relevant qualification certificates of forensic experts and are included in the State Register of Certified Forensic Experts in accordance with the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine Order (No. 492/5 of 29.03.2012) – On Approval of the Procedure for Maintaining the State Register of Certified Forensic Experts, registered with the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine 30.03.2012 under No. 484/20797.

Expert Forensic Examination Fee

In cases stipulated by the legislation of Ukraine, the Main Forensic Centre is to send to an authorised person (body) a certificate calculating the cost of a forensic examination in accordance with the established standard hourly fee for each hour of the examination process.

Time Limits for Conducting Forensic Examinations

The time limit for a forensic examination is determined and set by the Chief of the Main Forensic Centre / the Deputy Chief / the Chief of a department; taking into account, the complexity of the research and the required workload being assigned to the specialist.

The examination is to be completed within the following time limits:

• 10 calendar days for materials with a small number of objects, requiring simple research;

• 30 calendar days for materials with an average number of objects or requiring medium complexity of research;

• 60 calendar days for materials with a large number of objects or requiring complex research;

• more than 60 calendar days for materials with a very large number of objects or requiring particularly complex research, the term of execution not exceeding 90 calendar days;

An extended time limit can be set after preliminary examination of the submitted material by a forensic expert. A written agreement is made with the person / body who commissioned the forensic examination if the forensic examination is particularly complex / requires resolution of more than ten issues / issues require several examinations / examination involves more than fifty research objects or comparative materials / examination requires the involvement of specialists from other institutions, enterprises, organisations and cannot be completed within the specific time limits.

Contacts

Email (main office): [email protected]

Email (for information/alert’s exchange): [email protected]

Types of Forensic Examination