The Hearing in Criminal Proceedings: Contemporary Challenges and Measures to Enhance Procedural Efficiency
Abstract
This article examines, through a comparative legal analysis of criminal procedural regulations, the principal difficulties arising in the conduct of hearings in criminal cases and formulates proposals for their remediation. The scientific inquiry identifies systemic deficiencies affecting the efficiency and lawfulness of the hearing, including the insufficient level of professional training of those conducting the hearing, the limited use of modern technologies in the recording and administration of testimonial statements, as well as the persistent problem of applying physical or psychological coercion for the purpose of obtaining testimonial evidence. The hearing, as a complex legal phenomenon and one of the most important and frequently employed procedural acts, requires an integrated approach grounded in a comparative analysis of the standards and best practices established in other legal systems. The current state of the hearing — particularly in the pre-trial phase — does not fully meet the contemporary demands of criminal procedural science and fails to sufficiently capitalize on recent doctrinal and technological advances. The article advocates for the modernization of the normative framework and judicial practice in the area of hearings, through the strengthening of procedural guarantees, the professionalization of the subjects involved, and the integration of current scientific achievements, with a view to ensuring the lawful, efficient, and fair character of this essential instrument for the ascertainment of truth in criminal proceedings. The research conducted supports the necessity of integrating contemporary scientific achievements into the procedural form of the hearing, as a prerequisite for the dynamic adaptation of regulatory frameworks and judicial practice to theoretical and technological developments, in order to ensure the efficiency, legality, and credibility of this means of evidence in criminal proceedings.
References
Baybikov R. R. Impermissible interrogation methods: regulation under the criminal procedural legislation of Russia and foreign countries. Bulletin of Economics, Law and Sociology. 2016, No. 1, pp. 109–115. ISSN 1998-5533.
Bernam W. The legal system of the United States of America. 3rd edition. Moscow: Novaya Yustitsiya, 2007. 1216 p. ISBN 978-5-91028-031-5.
Code of criminal procedure. Annotated under the direction of Philippe Conte. 2022 edition. Paris: Lexis Nexis, 2021. 3232 p. ISBN 978-2-7110-3512-0.
Criminal procedure code of the Republic of Moldova: Law No. 122-XV of 14 March 2003. // Official Gazette of the Republic of Moldova, 2003, No. 104–110. In force since 12 June 2003.
Cole G., Smith Ch. E. The American system of justice. Pacific Grove: Brooks/Cole Publishing Company, 1997. 667 p. ISBN 0534525334.
David R., Joffre-spinozi K. Major legal systems of the modern world. Moscow, 1997. 423 p. ISBN 57133-0927-4.
Doltu I., Drăghici V., Negip M. The witness in criminal proceedings. Bucharest: Lumina Lex Publishing House, 2004. 144 p. ISBN 973-588-807-6.
Geiselman R., Fisher R., Firstenberg I., et al. Enhancement of eyewitness memory: an empirical evaluation of the cognitive interview. Journal of Police Science and Administration. 1984, Vol. 12, pp. 74–80. ISSN 0090-9084.
Geiselman R., Fisher R. The cognitive interview: an innovative technique for questioning witnesses of crime. Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology. 1988, No. 4, pp. 2–5. ISSN 1936-6469.
Golovenkov P., Spitsa N. Criminal procedure code of Germany. Scientific-practical commentary and translation of legislative texts. Potsdam, 2012. 408 p., pp. 215–216. [online] [accessed 12.02.2026]. Available: https://publishup.uni-potsdam.de/opus4-ubp/frontdoor/deliver/index/docId/6039/file/sdrs02.pdf
Ishchenko E. P., Toporkov A. A. Criminalistics: textbook. 2nd revised and expanded edition. Moscow: Kontrakt-Infra M, 2010. 780 p. ISBN 978-5-16-004067-7.
Jitariuc V., Rusu V. Treatise on criminalistics. Part II. Criminalistic tactics. Bucharest: Pro Universitaria Publishing House, 2025. 1069 p. ISBN 978-606-26-2008-0.
Jitariuc V,. Rusu L. The principle of adversarial proceedings in criminal procedure. Bucharest: Pro Universitaria Publishing House, 2024. 220 p. ISBN 978-606-26-1335-8.
Khaydarov A. A. When the court recognizes an interrogation record as inadmissible evidence. Criminal Process. 2017, No. 7 (151), pp. 29–35. ISSN 2076-4413.
Komarov I. M., Vinokurov E. A. Criminal procedural and tactical aspects of professional defense at the stage of preliminary investigation. Belgorod, 2011. 218 p.
Law No. 245 of 31.07.2023 for the amendment of certain normative acts (amendment of the Criminal Procedure Code and the Contravention Code) [online] [accessed 12.02.2026]. Available: https://www.legis.md/cautare/getResults?doc_id=138674&lang=ro
Lodyzhenskaya I. I., Panfilov G. P. Pre-trial cooperation agreement: issues of law enforcement and ways to overcome them. Leningrad Law Journal. 2016, No. 1 (43), pp. 159–169. ISSN 1813-6230.
Mateuț Gh. Treatise on criminal procedure. General part. Bucharest: C.H. Beck Publishing House, 2012. 928 p. ISBN 978-973-115-252-3.
Matsopoulou H. Modalities of evidence and transformations in its collection and administration. Archives de politique criminelle. 2004, No. 26, pp. 141–173. ISSN 2105-2670.
Miheș C. Criminalistics: Witness interrogation. Bucharest: Lumina Lex Publishing House, 2008. 239 p. ISBN 978-973-758-155-6.
Newborn T. Handbook of criminal investigation. New York: Willan Publishing Ltd, 2007. 737 p. ISBN 978-1-84392-188-2.
Petukhovskiy A. A. Problems of proof in criminal proceedings (improvement of legislation and law enforcement practice). Moscow: MSOU Publishing House, 2009. 113 p.
Rusu V. Criminal procedure in cases involving minors. Chișinău: Pontos Publishing House, 2004. 304 p. ISBN 9975-926-29-0.
Rusu V. The system of investigative actions in US legislation. In: Romanian Journal of Criminalistics. 2022, No. 3 (131), Vol. XXIII, pp. 160–165. ISSN 1454-3117.
Sabyrbaev S. A. Interrogation as an investigative action: comparative legal analysis under the criminal procedural legislation of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Kazakhstan. Scientific-methodological electronic journal “Concept”. 2016, Vol. 11, pp. 1866–1870. ISSN 2304-120X.
Stancu Em., Manea T. Criminalistic tactics: University course. Bucharest: Universul Juridic Publishing House, 2017. Vol. I. 224 p. ISBN 978-606-39-0115-7.
Trefilov A. A. Investigative actions: features of the Swiss legislative approach. Mari Law Bulletin. 2015, No. 1 (12), pp. 97–101. ISSN 2413-0664.
Usmanov U. A. Interrogation tactics at the preliminary investigation stage: handbook. Moscow: PRIOR, 2001. 174 p. ISBN 5-7990-0662-3.
Vizdoagă T. Videoconference – an innovative approach in criminal procedure. In: Romanian Journal of Criminalistics. 2025, No. 2 (142), Vol. XX
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
The author fully assumes the content's originality and the holograph signature makes him responsible in case of trial.
Users can: Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format; Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially.