This article makes an attempt to pay tribute to the contribution of forensic scientists to the theory and practice of using cryptography. It considers publications on cryptography issues of the founders of forensic science – Antonio Cospi, Hans Gross, Edmond Locard and a number of domestic forensic scientists. The importance of these publications for the development of forensic science and forensic activities is shown as well as the interrelation of forensic science and examination with cryptography under present-day conditions.

The article is devoted to the problem of document classification at the present stage. The authors carry out a retrospective analysis of the most comprehensive approaches to the categorization of these objects including documentary, criminal and procedural and forensic ones. Their advantages and drawbacks are noted in accordance with the requirements of a certain period.

Based on the study of specialized literature and forensic practice, a new approach to document classification consistent with the current level of development of information technologies and document flow is proposed. The authors suggest that its use will meet the current needs of law enforcement agencies in the field of examination, evaluation and use of various types of documents, contributing to improving the efficiency of detection, investigation and prevention of crimes.

In the context of rapid technological progress, modern methods of analyzing three-dimensional models become increasingly relevant in the field of portrait identification. This approach integrates advances in machine learning, 3D modeling, and biometric analytics, opening up new horizons for identifying individuals based on anthropological features of appearance.

This article focuses on the historical analysis and prospects for further improvement of portrait examination methods based on 3D models, identification of their strengths and limitations and on discussing potential areas of their practical application as well.

According to the results of a survey conducted among specialists of public and private expert institutions, there is considerable interest on the part of practicing experts in using 3D scanning technologies to form comparative samples during portrait examination in order to increase the objectivity and visual availability of the examination results.

The article considers the theoretical basis for class division of forensic economic examinations into types and kinds by various expert institutions.

The type classification of forensic financial and economic examinations is proposed depending on the financial relations between business activity subjects which are to be investigated.

The subject of forensic financial and credit examination is defined as financial relations between a creditor and a borrower. The tasks of this type of forensic economic examination are analyzed. Expert approaches to solving one of the frequent tasks of forensic financial and credit examination are analyzed related to establishing the areas of credit funds spending.

Basic normative documents regulating the activity of credit organizations and their rules of accounting are listed. A number of professional terms related to finance and credit activities as well as the structure of the client’s bank account number are analyzed as well.

The logic of an economist’s actions is shown using an example from expert practice when addressing typical questions on obtaining and spending a bank loan.

Interpretations of key professional terms are given for those who do not possess special knowledge in finance and credit to understand the text of an economic expert’s conclusion.

The article summarizes the research experience gained by forensic expert institutions of the Russian Ministry of Justice under assessment of the distance determination accuracy using orthophotomaps of GIS “Yandex Maps” and GIS “Google Earth”. On the basis of this assessment the methodological approach is proposed to solve the expert task of determining distances on video records using various geographic information systems (hereinafter GIS), including cases of establishing circumstances of road accidents (hereinafter accidents). As part of this approach, methods for GIS data verification are described.

This study explores potential application of a Siamese Convolutional Neural Network (SNN) integrated with a Convolutional Block Attention Module (CBAM) in the field of handwritten signature identification. One well-known obstacle to the introduction of artificial neural networks into forensic expert practice is the low level of their interpretability.

This limitation makes it difficult for experts to determine what patterns were identified by the neural network algorithm, and which ones of them form the basis of its forecast. Furthermore, in most contemporary studies on handwriting analysis, specialists tend to use the “classical” authorship attribution approach, treating the task as a particular case of classification.

However, in authors’ view, this method often leads to Type II errors making the use of classification algorithms for identification purposes unacceptable. As an alternative, the authors propose to focus on the SNN architecture. To support these claims, a series of experiments were conducted as part of this study, demonstrating that modern mechanisms of attention – particularly CBAM – can partially interpret the neural network results. Additionally, the use of SNN helps to minimize the number of Type II errors compared to the traditional classification-based approach.

In recent times, the subject of scientific research is increasingly becoming the improvement of the quality of forensic activities (FA), proper and effective management of it, as an ill-considered approach to FA organization can lead to negative consequences. The author identifies the FA organizational basis as part of forensic expertology, analyzes the relationship between management theory and forensic expertology and defines the FA specifics as an object of management. Considering the main modern doctrinal developments and highlighting aspects that significantly influence the FA genesis, the author comes to the conclusion on the actual formation of the FA management private theory. The article proposes the main elements of the FA management theory. In particular, it gives definitions of its subject and object and outlines an approximate structure of the management theory.

The article considers the methodology for valuation of the trademark owned by a company as an intangible asset.

The purpose of the study is to propose a new methodological approach, basing on balance sheet indicators as well as indicators of liquidity and net profit of the company which helps you to most correctly assess the value of a trademark owned by a company.

The objective of the study is to introduce new calculation and analytical systems into the methodology for determining the value of a trademark owned by a company within the framework of financial and economic expert research.

The relevance of the study is driven by the need to introduce interrelated analytical mechanisms to determine the amount of royalty and the discount rate, as well as to evaluate the criteria for their practical application.

The conclusion is that in the calculation and analytical system developed for trademark valuation, the royalty amount can be derived from the operating margin cost by correlating the arithmetic average cost increase of the “Net profit” indicator for previous years with the arithmetic average cost of the “Revenue from sales” indicator for previous years. It is also proposed that the discount rate can be determined within the framework of a cumulative model by summing up premiums for risk factors and developing a new calculation and analytical system for distributing risk premiums with a pre-selected maximum percentage point. This approach allows to assume what level of risk will be in this system in terms of ensuring the “Arithmetic average increase” indicator for the net profit.

The article reviews the professional path and scientific achievements of professor Nadezhda P. Maylis, an outstanding scientist in the field of criminalistics and forensic examination. The author analyzes the main milestones of N.P. Maylis formation as an expert and scientist, from getting an education to establishing of her own scientific school. Particular attention is paid to N.P. Maylis’s contribution to the development of traceology, where she proposed a radically new understanding of traceology as a fundamental theory applicable in various types of examinations. The article also highlights her significant contribution to the development of the general theory of forensic examination, including methodological basics, classification of examinations, and diagnostic research. A large part of the work is devoted to the analysis of N.P. Maylis’s pedagogical activities, creation of the first textbook on forensic examination, and formation of the scientific school. The author emphasizes her role as a popularizer of the forensic expert profession and a mentor to young scientists and practitioners. The article will be of interest to criminalists, forensic experts, teachers and students of law schools, as well as anyone interested in the history of forensic science development in Russia. The work demonstrates not only the professional achievements of the scientist but also reveals her human qualities as a wise mentor and a supportive colleague.

The study is based on documentary materials, scientific publications, and the author’s personal experience of long-term cooperation with N.P. Maylis.

On the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory, veterans of the Russian Federal Centre of Forensic Science recall the unique examinations of objects related to both the tragic and heroic events of those fiery years. In this essay, the author pays attention to the identification of the commander captured by Max. Alpert in the famous photograph which provided the basis for the sculpture “Battalion Commander”.