Historical Treatment of Expert Evidence in Criminal Proceedings
Author: Donika Prela*, Prof. As. Arjan Qafa
LAWYER with License No. 10451.
Published Date: 2025-01-13
Keywords: The key theme of “The Historical Treatment of Expert Evidence in Criminal Proceedings” is the use of expert evidence, which has undergone a long and significant evolution, becoming a key instrument in clarifying complex and technical issues that cannot be easily understood by judicial authorities. Expert evidence has a history that begins in the 18th and 19th centuries, spanning fields such as forensic medicine, ballistics, and DNA, and includes an organized structure that ensures expert assistance in verifying or disproving allegations. The use of expert evidence has increased especially after 1991 in Albania, when the legal system began to adapt to international standards and European Union practices.
Abstract:
This material analyzes the use of expert evidence in criminal proceedings, an instrument that has undergone a long evolution, becoming essential for resolving technical and scientific issues. Initially, expertise was a broad field, but with the development of science and new techniques, it has become a specialized and significant tool in criminal investigations. The use of expert evidence developed in Europe since the 18th century and had a significant impact in Albania, especially after 1991, when the Albanian legal system adapted to international practices. Expertise plays a key role in verifying facts and analyzing scientific evidence, contributing to the administration of justice and ensuring a fair and reliable criminal process.