This article considers methodological features of applying the systematic approach to complex forensic psychological and linguistic examination of information materials. Drawing on a synthesis of O.A. Konopkin’s concept of self-regulation of voluntary activity and the provisions on the verbalization stages of understanding the state of affairs in the study of extremist materials by O.V. Kukushkina and Yu.A. Safonova (2011), the integration of linguistic discourse markers with the psychological regulatory blocks of communicative behavior is substantiated. It is demonstrated that the transition from descriptive analysis to dynamic reconstruction of intentional structures of the author's message increases the methodological integrity of complex examination. The application of the systematic approach principles as a methodological framework, in turn, guarantees a clear alignment between psychological and linguistic examination results and the law enforcement system, substantiates the commonality of psychological and linguistic components within the framework of a complex psychological and linguistic forensic examination and provides special knowledge integration necessary for an in-depth analysis of the information material as a dynamic system regulating the subject communicative behavior. Based on patterns of special knowledge interaction (sequential, parallel, sequential-parallel) an algorithm for synthesizing psychological and linguistic examination results is proposed, including the discrepancy verification procedure designed to minimize the risk of contradictory or unfounded conclusions. It is outlined that application of systematic approach principles ensures the scientific and methodological validity of expert conclusions and their evidentiary stability in law enforcement practice when investigating cases of the so-called speech or communication offenses.

The article proposes an idea of possible development of a scientific theory of “Forensic examination of documents in the context of digitalization” based on the analysis of modern patterns of forensic examination of documents as well as the emerging trends in law enforcement practice regarding the evidential use of results of expert examination of analog and digital copies of documents. The proposed theory comprises two parts: general and special one. The general part –“Theoretical Bases of Forensic Document Examination in the Context of Digitalization” consists of a set of scientific principles that reveal the essence, subject matter, objects, objectives and methodological principles of such examination, the system of methods and technical means used as well as the patterns of applying specialized knowledge when examining documents created, processed or modified using digital technologies. The special part “Methodological Support for Forensic Examination of Documents Using Information and Computer Technologies” includes the following: the organizational and applied basics of conducting document examinations using information and computer technologies; practical recommendations for implementing specific methods and tools in the process of forensic document examination; models (programs) for studying documents and their details, based on the application of data analysis methods, computer vision, and neural network technologies; examples of perspective approaches to integrating artificial intelligence technologies into criminalistic and forensic expert activities.

 The level of professional training of a construction forensic expert and his technical equipment should be fully in line with the current level of technical progress, the results of which are successfully used by leading construction organizations. Artificial intelligence (AI), whose cognitive and creative potential has been constantly growing, is increasingly being introduced into the processes of design and building of construction facilities, allocation of material resources, construction cost determination, labor protection, staffing and placement of personnel as well as in solving many problematic issues that inevitably arise in the construction industry given its constantly growing pace of development. Construction forensic experts, who carry out time-consuming and often routin examinations on an ongoing basis, should actively include modern AI-integrated technologies in their arsenal as well as supplement it with new functions that allow them to quickly and accurately resolve issues posed by investigators and judges. The article considers technologies integrated with artificial intelligence successfully tested in practice, the capabilities of which allow them to be introduced into the process of conducting forensic construction and technical examinations. The authors also identified cognitive functions that have yet to be developed and added further to the field of artificial intelligence research. The article clearly demonstrates the possibility of applying AI in examinations most commonly used in expert practice, including complex and time-consuming ones. The prospect of using AI in all types of examinations conducted as part of the forensic construction and technical examination is outlined, which will ensure its compliance with the requirements of modern legal proceedings.

The article examines the issue of the diagnostics of texts as objects of intellectual property. It discusses possible identification of a text as an information object.

A method is proposed for describing a text as the intersection of two planes of existence of semiotic objects—the plane of expression and the plane of content using the concept of the “figure,” a singleplane unit involved in semiosis.

The article considers the possibility of qualifying various figures within the framework of the graded opposition "system norm usage group communication individual communication process" as the basis for the diagnostic description of the text, and methods of figurative analysis of plans of expression and content using examples from expert research.

The aim of this work is to develop an algorithm for automatically converting grayscale rifling marks into binary data in the way they are analyzed by an expert. The objective of this study is to explore the feasibility of image binarization of secondary traces using a semantic binary segmentation algorithm implemented on the basis of a convolutional neural network. The training set included 160 images of secondary traces, represented in grayscale and formed by different rifling marks. The secondary trace image generator was used to augment the training set. The calculations done in accordance with the metrics showed the following accuracy of image binarization of secondary traces: Accuracy = 0,88 ± 0,05; Recall = 0,76 ± 0,06; Precision = 0,83 ± 0,06; F1 = 0,79 ± 0,05; MCC = 0,71 ± 0,06. The binarization of images is necessary for automatic comparison of secondary traces using one of the machine learning algorithms for the purpose of their binary classification into the categories of “matching traces” and “non-matching traces”. The preliminary examination showed that the classification accuracy of pairs of secondary trace images by these categories, carried out using the Random Forest algorithm, was around 84–86%.

The article is based on the analysis of the design and ballistic characteristics of 366 TKM cal. cartridges of various samples (with “FMJ-2” shell bullet, “KION 13” semi-shell bullet, “ECO” all-metal bullet made of zinc alloy, “DERI” cast lead bullet in a polymer antifriction shell) and the results of experimental firing thereof from a hunting cal. 366 TKM carbine TG-2 (“Paradox”) revealed the features of a close shot gunshot residues (GSR) left on targets made of white cotton calico.

There are noted the features of the cal. 366 TKM cartridges and their processing stages. It is demonstrated that the complex of GSR left on the shot barriers characterizes the cases of shooting from a hunting cal. 366 TKM carbine TG-2 (“Paradox”) with cartridges cal. 366 and bullets “FMJ-2”, “KION 13”, “ECO”, “DERI” which is inherent in each of these cartridge samples. Provided that the cal. 366 TKM cartridges with bullets “FMJ-2”, “KION 13”, “ECO” and “DERI” belong to the same model range of cartridges, the GSR formed by them when firing from a TG-2 (“Paradox”) cal. 366 TKM hunting carbine are different from each other. This applies both to the features of GSR external differences and their qualitative composition differentiations. The qualitative GSR composition is characterized by particular specificity when firing cal. 366 TKM cartridges with an all-metal bullet made of zinc alloy “ECO” and a cast lead bullet in a polymer antifriction shell “DERI”. In the first case these features are determined by zinc alloy particles deposition in the GSR and in the second case by the polymer shell fragments (polyester resins based on terephthalic acid) in their native form or modified by mechanical or thermal shot effect.

The article opens a series of works devoted to developing a set of diagnostic features of information materials related to forensic ethics examination in animal cruelty cases. The expert methodology aimed at identifying such a set of diagnostic features must be based on objective scientific approaches. This first article of the series addresses the issue of whether there exists an objective and empirically verified structure of values. It examines the stages of empirical axiology development, beginning with the first standardized questionnaire by G. Allport and P. Vernon, continuing with the Harvard project of the general theory of social action by T. Parsons, the M. Rokeach methodology and observations of R. Inglehart and concluding with a large-scale cross-cultural study by S. Schwartz. Each of these stages provided the forensic ethics examination with a distinct scientific basis, from the measurability of values to the universality of their structure. The article shows that the ten basic value types and the circular structure of relations among them have been confirmed by measurements in hundreds of sample data from dozens of countries which forms a universal model capable of serving as an objective framework for the expert ethical assessment of the information materials submitted for examination. The universal model describes the organization of the value system but does not assign the highest priority in the value hierarchy to the values of the social focus. For the Russian society this priority is established by the system of traditional spiritual and moral values enshrined in the Decree No. 809 of the President of the Russian Federation. The joint operation of Schwartz universal model and the normative priorities of the system of traditional spiritual and moral values in expert analysis is ensured by the dual methodological loop, the application of which is briefly shown using the case related to the activities of the Good Vet veterinary clinic examined earlier. It is further planned to consider in detail the correlation of traditional Russian values with the universal model and the dual-loop method as well as to present the set of diagnostic features itself.

The work addresses the problem of distinguishing between a state religious expertise and a forensic religious examination as well as developing the methodological approaches to diagnostics of the signs of a religious association. There are considered the legal grounds for appointing a forensic religious examination as well as an algorithm for diagnosing the signs of a religious association. Special attention is paid to the operationalization of the concept of religion in relation to the tasks of judicial proceedings. The signs of a religious association are systematized in accordance with Federal Law No. 125-FZ dated September 26, 1997: “On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Associations”: religion, performance of worship services, and training of adherents. Criteria for differentiating personal freedom of conscience from the activities of a religious group are identified based on the theological doctrine, ritual practice and pedagogical components. There are defined the indicators for identification of dogmatically driven signs of changes in social behavior of adherents under the influence of thought conversion. Based on the generalization of forensic practice, the methodological approaches to diagnostics of a religious association are proposed. The author substantiates the significance of the developed approaches for minimizing legal risks when evaluating non-traditional religious movements in criminal and civil proceedings.

The article considers the issue of ensuring proper protection of a citizen’s digital profile, which is becoming increasingly important due to significant growth in number of unlawful acts committed using other people’s personal data. First of all these are the mercenary crimes theft, fraud, embezzlement of other people’s property. In addition stolen personal data of citizens are often used to conceal information about the identity of perpetrators of terrorist acts and other particularly serious crimes.

The author highlights the need to improve forensic support for the investigation (including judicial) of criminal cases under Article 272.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation in order to effectively identify and investigate criminal offences against other people’s personal data. As part of this improvement, the author proposes the development of forensic characteristics, technical-criminalistic and tactical-forensic support. The issues of appointment and performance of relevant forensic examinations are also considered.

The article considers forensic expert support of legal proceedings in cases involving violations of land and environmental legislation. It is proved that the appointment of complex land surveying and ecological forensic examinations is most effective in this category of cases where the experts of certain specialties conduct their studies in a coordinated manner and strictly within their competence. The interrelation of forensic land surveying and forensic ecological examinations and methodological features of forensic expert proceedings is revealed in cases involving violations of land and environmental legislation.

The article addresses topical issues of instrumental diagnostics of diamonds’ origin in the context of the modern jewelry market characterized by the widespread appearance of synthetic and treated stones. The objective of the study is to define the key diagnostic optical features necessary for the reliable identification of diamonds’ nature of origin.

The paper summarizes findings of The Russian Federal Centre of Forensic Science expert practice findings of examination of 55 samples using a complex of non-destructive methods (including visual analysis, optical microscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, and photoluminescence spectroscopy).

The study considers and provides the detailed characteristics and spectral markers for four primary types of cut diamonds: natural diamonds (Type IaAB), natural diamonds treated with high-temperature HPHT-annealing, and synthetic HPHT and CVD diamonds.