Perspectives for Reforming Criminal Procedural Legislation Regarding the Regulation of Investigative (Search) Actions Restricting the Inviolability of Housing or Other Personal Possession

Abstract

The author of the article identifies the main directions of reforming the criminal procedural legislation on investigative (search) actions that restrict the inviolability of housing or other personal possession.
 In particular, the author emphasizes that it is necessary to offer: clarification of the content of the concept of "housing" and "other personal possession" stated in Part 2 of the Art. 233 of the Criminal Procedural Code of Ukraine; clear definition of the interpretation of the terms of "search of housing or other personal possession" and "inspection of housing or other personal possession" contained in Part 1 of the Art. 234 and Part 2 of the Art. 237 of the Criminal Procedural Code of Ukraine; clarification of the provisions of Part 2 of the Art. 237 of the Criminal Procedural Code of Ukraine on the grounds for inspection of housing or other personal possession; providing the possibility of conducting search of a vehicle, where the detainee was, in accordance with Part 3 of the Art. 208 of the Criminal Procedural Code of Ukraine; definitions in the Articles 234, 236, 237, 240 of the Criminal Procedural Code of Ukraine of the interrogator as a subject of search, inspection and investigative experiment.
 It is emphasized that perspective areas for the development of criminal procedural legislation to regulate investigative (search) actions that restrict the inviolability of housing or other personal possession is to solve the problem of attracting free legal aid for a person who has no procedural status, but investigators continue investigative (search) actions against that person; determination of the procedural status of witnesses who are involved into investigative (search) actions; determination of the mechanism of addressing of the property’s owner with the petition to return the seized property during carrying out investigative (search) actions restricting inviolability of housing or other personal possession.
 It is emphasized that the elimination of the above gaps in the criminal procedural legislation, in order to ensure the functioning of an effective mechanism to ensure respect for constitutional human and civil rights and freedoms during pre-trial investigation and court proceedings, is the primary and main task for reforming criminal procedural legislation regarding investigative (search) actions that restrict the inviolability of housing or other personal possession.