TACTICAL AND PROCEDURAL FEATURES OF INTERROGATION OF A VICTIM DURING THE INVESTIGATION OF CRIMINAL OFFENSES PROVIDED FOR BY ARTICLE 156-1 OF THE CRIMINAL CODE OF UKRAINE

Abstract

The article investigates the tactical and procedural features of interviewing
victims during the investigation of criminal offenses stipulated in Article 156-1 of
the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which is one of the most complex and sensitive
categories of crimes. It emphasizes that interviewing child victims significantly
differs from interviewing adults and requires a profound understanding of child
developmental psychology. The necessity of an individualized approach to
studying the personality of the interviewee is highlighted, specifically through
preliminary communication with the child involving a psychologist and conducted
in an informal setting. It is noted that this approach allows for identifying the
child's psychotype, emotional and psychological state, level of physiological and psychological development, as well as their willingness to cooperate. Particular
attention is paid to assessing the degree of psychological trauma and risks of
retraumatization during investigative actions, which is a priority in investigating
such crimes. The article elaborates on tactical techniques aimed at ensuring the
child's trust and comfort, such as creating a favorable atmosphere, using
accessible language, and avoiding leading or traumatizing questions. Emphasis is
placed on selecting the appropriate moment for the interview and minimizing its
duration. Procedural requirements for recording the child’s interview are
described. In addition to traditional protocoling, the importance and necessity of
video recording as the primary method of documenting testimony are
emphasized. In this context, the practical value and legal aspects of using the
"Green Room" methodology or the "Barnahus" model are examined.