The ordinary criminal investigation of the Russian empire counties in the second half of nineteenth - early twenties century: the search of an effective model of struggle against criminality

In this article the evolution of a decentralized model of the ordinary criminal investigation of the Russian Empire counties in the second half of nineteenth - early twenties century is observed on the basis of an extensive range of archival and literary sources and there are attempts to introduce and approbate a centralized model of the ordinary criminal investigation in the Ekaterinoslavl province. The article author emphasizes that the introduction of police constable posts in 1878, differing from other authorities of the county police with functional focus on offences prevention and prosecution, had been called to modify the decentralized model and improve its effectiveness. The second step of the government towards strengthening ordinary criminal investigation in the rural areas had been the ambition to extend detective offices activities of the city police on counties territory. The article reveals the ineffectiveness reasons of these governmental measures and causes, challenging the Ministry of Internal Affairs initiative to develop the “Flying detective units” draft, providing for establishment of a central- ized model for the ordinary criminal investigation. The article author is made a conclusion about the possibility of using the experience of “Flying detective units” system organization as a prevention form and offences prosecution in rural areas in the contemporary conditions.