The article explores theoretical and practical aspects of evidence collection, examination and assessment in cases of administrative offences, which have been little analyzed as yet. In the article, evidence collection refers to the search for evidence, its discovery and consolidation in a material object. Evidence examination is defined as the establishment of actual data on the circumstances relevant to the case, which are recorded in the evidence, and an additional examination of certain circumstances. Evidence assessment means thinking activities to analyze (...) evidence collected and examined in the case and to establish the truth in the case, according to appropriate criteria. Referring to the opinions of various scientists and the case law of the Supreme Administrative Court of Lithuania, the article reveals elements of evidence in cases of administrative offences, thoroughly explores each stage of the averment process and provides practical examples and makes suggestions for solving problems. The article substantiates a conclusion that early examination and assessment of evidence should also be carried out during the process of drawing up a record of administrative offence. (shrink)

Research carried out in Lithuania shows that the system of expert bodies has already prepared for change. Such opinion is supported by the Lithuanian Government working group meeting concerning the improvement of experts’ performance. In our opinion, Lithuania should ensure strategic, integrated multi-level forensic analysis, rational and potential use of material by not only dealing with a variety of forensic issues, but also by the interpretation of criminal investigation and prevention on scientific, methodological, didactic and organisational levels. The article presents (...) the concept of research that is accomplishing in scientific project ‘Special scientific knowledge of the investigation of crime: the concept and its realisation mechanism” and first intermediary results of the research. The purpose of the project is to formulate the scientific concept and realisation of special knowledge in the investigation of crimes and administrative offences in the direction of legal system reform. (shrink)

The word ‘situation’ is met quite often not only in everyday life but also in legal literature. It describes the interrelations among the society, officials, public administration entities, institutions, states, etc. Frequently it is a characterization of certain controversial phenomena. In criminal justice, however, this word carries a special practical and applied meaning and requires constant in-depth analysis not only of the etymology of ‘a situation’ but also of its legal theoretic meaning, purpose, function and practical application. In the present (...) article, the authors examine the criminalistics situation—one of the most significant categories of the theory of criminalistics and crime investigation techniques. The article explores a number of concepts such as ‘a criminal situation’, ‘a criminalistics situation’, ‘a crime situation’ and ‘a crime investigation situation’ as well as their content, classification and interrelations. The investigation of criminal acts encounters criminal law, criminological and criminalistics situations. Yet, all of them are linked by the fact that they represent particular situations which can conditionally be called ‘criminal situations’. After a proper analysis and classification of the situations of criminal acts, it is possible to determine the strategic and tactical characteristics of their investigation situations, forecast their course and a likely outcome. (shrink)