SOME ASPECTS OF IMPROVING THE WORK OF AN INVESTIGATOR DURING INVESTIGATIVE (SEARCH) ACTIONS RELATED TO OBTAINING INFORMATION FROM PERSONAL SOURCES WITH THE PARTICIPATION OF A PERSON SICK OF COVID-19

Abstract

The article examines the organizational and tactical features of conducting investigative (search) actions related to obtaining information from personal sources involving persons infected with COVID-19. It is established that the coronavirus pandemic became one of the most significant challenges to the functioning of criminal justice systems and substantially affected the activities of pre-trial investigation bodies. The necessity of ensuring the continuity of criminal proceedings under conditions of increased epidemiological risk required the adaptation of traditional forensic recommendations to new conditions of investigative activity. The study analyzes the specific features of interrogations, simultaneous interrogations, identification procedures, and other investigative (search) actions that involve direct communicative interaction between participants in criminal proceedings. It is determined that the key challenge of conducting such procedural actions during the pandemic lies in balancing the need to obtain complete and reliable evidentiary information with the obligation to ensure an adequate level of biological safety for all participants. The article establishes that the risk of infection during investigative actions is shaped by a combination of biological, organizational, professional, and behavioral factors. Particular attention is paid to the negative impact of anti-epidemic measures on the perception of non-verbal information, the establishment of psychological contact, and the implementation of certain interrogation tactics. The expediency of using videoconferencing technologies, modern digital communication tools, personal protective equipment, and specialized organizational algorithms as effective means of minimizing the spread of coronavirus infection is substantiated. It is concluded that the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to the emergence of a new direction in forensic research related to ensuring biological safety during investigative (search) actions. Further improvement of investigative activities requires the development of specialized forensic recommendations for working with persons suffering from infectious diseases, as well as the integration of sanitary and epidemiological requirements into the system of forensic support for pre-trial investigations.