Tactical and Criminalistic Features of Conducting a Physical Examination during the Verification of Crime Reports

The law defines examination as a specific form of inspection – namely, the inspection of a living person’s body. This investigative measure is a crucial evidentiary tool employed both during the preliminary investigation and at the stage of initiating a criminal case. A key feature of the verification of a crime report is the limited range of investigative actions permitted by law at this early stage of criminal proceedings. As a result, each permissible action assumes heightened importance due to its unique and often irreplaceable function. Examination belongs to the category of investigative measures legally allowed during the initiation stage, and this article explores its tactical and forensic-specific aspects within that context. The Authors examine current challenges in conducting examinations, the procedural framework governing this investigative action, and identify the range of participants involved. Particular attention is given to participants whose procedural status has not yet been determined – i.e., individuals examined before a formal decision to initiate criminal proceedings has been made. The article analyzes how the rights and lawful interests of these individuals can be protected during such procedures. Drawing on law enforcement practice, the article outlines scenarios in which examinations are conducted at the initiation stage for offenses such as: Illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, Causing minor bodily harm, or Offenses in the field of road traffic safety and transport operation. In view of the examination’s goals and objectives, the article identifies tactical and criminalistic considerations at each stage of its execution: preparatory, operational, and concluding phases. Based on an analysis of judicial and investigative practice, along with applicable legislation, the Authors formulate a practical algorithm for investigative actions related to conducting examinations during the crime report verification stage. The research, along with the proposed evidence-based recommendations on tactics, expands the understanding of this procedural tool and encourages its wider application in law enforcement practice.