Participation of a teacher and psychologist in criminal procedure on cases against minors

The criminal process in cases involving minors has its own peculiarities, which is explained by the need to ensure the rights of minors. At the same time, the current legislation does not always have a systemic character; a number of norms contradict each other. The specifics of Russian criminal justice in cases involving minors is a ground for discussion among scientists and practitioners. One of the controversial issues is the mechanism for ensuring the participation of a teacher and a psychologist in criminal proceedings in cases involving minors. The author concludes that the rules for the participation of a teacher or psychologist in criminal proceedings should not differ depending on the procedural status of a minor (accused, victim, witness). When considering the status of a teacher and a psychologist, the author comes to the conclusion that it is inexpedient to identify them. The teacher should be recognized as an independent participant in the process on the part of the defense, and it is advisable to consider the psychologist as a specialist.