Review

The introduction of the specialization of judges in conducting criminal proceedings against minors is one of the main guarantees of the qualitative and professional resolution of court cases of this category. At the same time, the introduction of specialization of judges is characterized by a rather restrictive approach of the legislator, since today the specialization of courts, that is, the construction and structure of the judicial system, is more important.

The purpose of the article is to find out the essence of the specialization of judges in conducting criminal proceedings against minors and the possibility of its introduction in criminal proceedings in which juveniles are victims.

Based on the analysis of international standards for the administration of juvenile justice, national legislation and judicial practice, it is understandable that minors who are granted special status in accordance with the provisions of the CPC of Ukraine are protected only if they participate in the proceedings as suspect or accused, which is confirmed by the legislatively introduced specialization of judges for conducting criminal proceedings against minors. In cases where the juvenile is a victim, criminal case is considered in the general order. That is, a minor victim, though recognized by the legislator as a special subject and granted additional rights (special interrogation procedure, institute of representation, etc.), however, at the stage of the trial, there is no proper procedure for ensuring of his rights and interests.

Therefore, we propose to broaden the content of the specialization of judges in criminal proceedings against minors, including criminal proceedings involving minor victims, which in turn will contribute to the achievement of high-quality justice results and will increase the public’s confidence in the judiciary.

References

1. 1. Deklaraciyi osnovny’x pry’ncy’piv pravosuddya dlya zhertv zlochy’niv i zlovzhy’vannya vladoyu vid 29.11.1985 [Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power] data zverennya 08.06.2018 (in Ukrainian).
2. Yevropejs’ka konvenciya pro zdijsnennya prav ditej vid 25.01.1996 [European Convention on the Exercise of Children’s Rights] data zverennya 08.06.2018 (in Ukrainian).
3. Kerivni pry’ncy’py’ Komitetu ministriv Rady’ Yevropy’ shhodo pravosuddya, druzhn’ogo do ditey’̆ vid 17.11.2010 [Guidelines of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on child-friendly justice]
4. data zverennya 08.06.2018 (in Ukrainian).
5. Kerivni pry’ncy’py’, shho stosuyut’sya pravosuddya z py’tan’, pov’yazany’x z uchastyu ditejzhertv ta svidkiv zlochy’niv vid 22.07.2005 [Guidelines on justice for child victims and witnesses of crime]
6. data zverennya 08.06.2018 (in Ukrainian).
7. Pro sudoustrij i status suddiv: Zakon Ukrayiny vid 02.06.2016 № 1402-VIII [Law of Ukraine On the Judiciary and Status of Judges] http://zakon3.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/1402–19 data zverennya 08.06.2018 (in Ukrainian).
8. Selivanov A ta inshi, Organizaciya sudovoï vlady’ v Ukraïni: Pershy’y’̆ analiz normaty’vnogo zmistu Zakonu Ukraïny’ «Pro sudoustriy’̆ Ukraïny’» [Organization of Judiciary in Ukraine: The first analysis of normative content of the Law of Ukraine «On the Judiciary of Ukraine»] (Yurinkom Inter 2002) 112 (in Ukrainian).
9. Shy’shkin V, Sudovi sy’stemy’ kraïn svitu: navch. posib. [Judicial systems of countries of the world] (Yurinkom Inter 2001) 336 (in Ukrainian).
10. Zbirny’k standartiv i norm OON v galuzi poperedzhennya zlochy’nnosti ta kry’minal’nogo sudochy’nstva [United Nations standards and norms in crime prevention and criminal justice] (N’yu-Y’̆ork 2007) 396 (in Ukrainian).
11. Vil’gushy’ns’ky’j M, Do py’tannya realizaciyi pry’ncy’pu specializaciyi v sy’stemi sudiv zagal’noyi yury’sdy’kciyi [On the issue of implementing the principle of specialization in the system of courts of general jurisdiction] (2012) 6 Advokat 9–13 (in Ukrainian).
12. Mel’ny’k А, Zabezpechennya prav zatry’manogo u kry’minal’nomu provadzhenni [Ensuring the rights of the detainee in a criminal proceeding] (dy’s kand yury’d nauk, 2015) 263 (in Ukrainian).
13. Sy’bil’ova N, Poryadok organizaciï ta diyal’nosti sudovoï vlady [Order of organization and activity of the judiciary] data zverennya 08.06.2018 (in Ukrainian).