Scientific Journal of the National Academy of Internal Affairs

The issue of development of forensic institutions in the territory of Ukraine in the first half of the twentieth century was researched. Until 1917, forensic medical examinations were conducted in the medical facilities of the provincial administrations, at the departments of forensic medicine of universities and in hospitals – by police doctors. Departments of forensic medicine existed at the Kyiv University of St. Vladimir, Kharkiv, Novorosiysk and Lviv Universities. Real organization of Ukrainian forensic medical institutions began in 1919, with the creation of the Medical Examination Department at the People’s Commissariat of Health. In 1923, Main forensic medical inspection, headed by M. S. Bokarius, was founded. In the provinces positions of forensic medical inspector were created. In 1927, sections of biological research were established in the Kharkiv, Kyiv and Odesa institutes of scientific and forensic expertise, where separate forensic examinations were conducted. In 1949, institutions of forensic medical examination of the USSR were merged into the Bureau of Forensic Medical Examination, in Ukraine it was held in 1951. It was proved that forensic institutions developed at the following chronological stages: 1) until 1917 – forensic medical service in the Ministry of Internal Affairs; 2) 1917–1941 – pre-WW II formation of forensic medical institutions; 3) 1941–1949 – forensic medical institutions during the WW II and in the first post-war years; 4) 1949–1990s – period of development of the bureau of forensic medical examinations of the states of the USSR; 5) since the 1990s – development of expert institutions in the health care system in independent post-Soviet states. It’s stressed that formation of the forensic institutions in Ukraine is closely linked with the development of forensic medicine departments of higher educational establishments. Forensic medicine departments were the basis for practical forensic medicine, professors provided daily assistance to forensic medical experts.