Standard of proof «sufficient reason» in the criminal procedure of Ukraine

Abstract

Based on the results of analysis of foreign doctrine, foreign procedural legislation, foreign law enforcement practice, the practice of the European Court of Human Rights. In the article explores problematic issues of the application of the standard of proof “sufficient reason” in the domestic criminal process. The relevance of the article is that the standard of proof “sufficient reason” or “probable cause” in the system of standard of proof in the domestic criminal process has a special place and using to accept most procedural decisions at the pre-trial investigation. The purpose of the article is to substantiation the main direction of using in the criminal proceed of Ukraine standard of proof “sufficient reason” taking into account the legal nature of this standard. In the article proved that “sufficient reason” is the standard of proof in the criminal proceed of Ukraine execution of which is based on “common sense” and in the factual analysis (assessment) of the whole set of facts and circumstance in their integrity, authorized entities with the use of special knowledges and experience on establishing “sufficient reason” for making appropriate procedural decision. Implementation of the standard of proof “sufficient reason” as well as “reasonable suspicion” doesn`t envisage a lack of doubt as guilty of the person. Sufficient is a possible knowledge about committing criminal offence by person with the difference that for the highest standard measures have to be higher. Moreover, within “flexible” standard of proof “sufficient reason” of the level of probability can also vary, depending on how much negatively appropriate procedural decision will affect the rights of the person. Prove that in the current Criminal procedural code of Ukraine the standard of proof “sufficient reason” is used to accept most procedural decisions at the pre-trial investigation stage in criminal proceedings, when the most reasonable suspicion of a committing person criminal offence is insufficient due to significant restrictions on human rights as a result of appropriate decision. At that, the flexible nature of the standard of evidence "sufficient reason", which consists in the required measure conviction the appropriate standard from the circumstances of the specific criminal proceedings, allows you to assert its suitability for Making a wide range of procedural decisions. Standard of proof “sufficient reason” is used for adoption of such procedural decisions: on the application of certain measures to ensure criminal proceedings; in addressing the issue of applying precautionary measures as a variety of measures to ensure criminal proceedings; in addressing the issue of individual investigative (detective) actions; in addressing the issue of granting permission for secret investigative (detective) actions and deciding on the use of the results of unspoken investigative actions in other criminal proceedings; when deciding on the placement of the person in the receiver-allocator for children (Part 4 art. 499 of the Criminal procedural code of Ukraine).