Criminalistic characteristics of crimes related to the destruction and damage of forest and other plantings by arson

Crimes related to the destruction and damage of forest and other plantings by arson are characterized by high latency. A fire is an uncontrolled combustion, in which endanger human life or health of citizens, harm is done to the environment, fauna and flora suffer, enormous material damage is caused to citizens, the interests of society and the state. A forest fire occurs due to a natural factor (dry thunderstorms), careless handling of fire, deliberate arson, man-made accident. Distinguishing intentional arson from other causes of a forest fire is quite a difficult task for an inquirer or investigator. In order to find the signs of a crime and fix the traces of deliberate arson, an organized and well-coordinated work of the investigative task force is required. Whether a criminal case will be initiated depends on the information collected and the timely fixing of the traces of the crime. For the investigation of a crime, information about the general laws of the mechanism of commission of the type of crime in question, as well as its distinctive features, plays a significant role. From the standpoint of the theory of the doctrine of criminalistic characteristics, the analysis of the points of view of scientists on the content and structure of the criminalistic characteristics of a crime in a broad sense and the direct study of the criminalistic characteristics of crimes related to criminal fires and arson is carried out. A study of investigative practice, materials of inspections on the facts of fire of forest and other plantings and expert opinions for criminally significant information about crimes related to arson of forest and other plantings was conducted. Approaches to the construction of criminalistic characteristics and its elements of crimes related to the destruction or damage of forest and other plantings by arson are proposed.