Experts’ training in Poland

Abstract

Under the Polish Code of Criminal Procedure there are three groups of people having knowledge in a giving field that is beyond the knowledge of a person with average education and of average intelligence. These are experts, translators and specialists. To carry out their activities experts to receive expert evidence, in case of specialists and translators a procedure of lesser importance is used. In the Polish Police scene of crime branch there is a group of persons called scene of crime officers (SOCOÿs) who, according to the Code, can be specialists in the course of criminal proceedings and perform technical activities such as taking measurements, making calculations or fixing traces. The other group of persons are police forensic experts, preparing expert opinions in case of the above mentioned decision being issued by the investigating body. Scene of crime training takes a few months and involves initial practical training and a SOCO training course. Forensic expertsÿ training consists of a few levels and lasts from three to five years. An important element of the latter is intramural Forensic Expert Studies (SOEK) organized by the Higher Police Training School. It is basically a theoretical training with elements of practical one. Graduating from SOEK is the basic for being promoted to the first commissioned officer’s rank and starting an intensive practical training programme. Passing the final exam means obtaining qualifications necessary to prepare opinions as a forensic expert.