Modeling the investigator's activities using virtual reality technologies

Kulaevskiy Andrei Vital'evich ORCID: 0000-0002-1809-416X Postgraduate student; Law Institute; Altai State University 656049, Russia, Altai Territory, Barnaul, Socialist Ave., 68 andrei8888.98@mail.ru

Osikin Dmitrii Alekseevich Lecturer; Institute of Mathematics and Information Technology; Altai State University 656049, Russia, Altai region, Barnaul, Lenin str., 61, room 406 minarai30@mail.ru

The possibilities of modeling human activity are considered from different perspectives. In science, modeling is understood as "a general scientific method of studying the properties of objects and processes based on their models, used for the purposes of cognition, research, design, and decision-making" ^{[1, p.8]}.

The traditional idea of a model is related to a material model, for example, a physical layout. However, the scientific positions set out in the works of V.A. Shtof ^[2] and V.K. Lukashevich ^[3] allowed the model to be understood as an experimental setup, a verbal description of the original object, and its mental image.

According to S. Hartman's position, one of the functions of the model is that they serve as the basis for computer simulation ^[4]. In this case, building a model of the investigator's activity, using virtual reality technologies, will allow us to reproduce the real work of the investigator during the investigation of crimes.

The advent of virtual reality technologies has led to the emergence of a new field of modeling – in the field of virtual reality. This type of modeling relies on "the sense of presence created by virtual reality devices to create a realistic world with a high degree of interactivity" ^[5], which determines one of the main applications of this method – application in the educational process.

The classic way to integrate such technologies into the educational process is the development of virtual reality simulators. A virtual reality simulator is an application for a virtual reality headset designed to teach a person a specialized set of skills ^[6]. When developing this software, special attention is paid to the realism of what is happening and the exact reflection of the algorithm of actions for which the simulator was created. This helps the student to immerse himself in the process and helps him to memorize the algorithm.

The main advantage of virtual reality simulators is that they are a cheap alternative to purchasing expensive training equipment. A single virtual reality helmet can contain many simulators, and virtual reality headsets are significantly cheaper than specialized equipment in the real world.

It is also worth noting the main drawback of this type of software – simulators are suitable only for memorizing the algorithm of actions. At the moment, virtual reality does not allow reflecting the necessary physical efforts to perform tasks related to the use of strength or endurance ^[7]. For example, a simulator for car mechanics will not allow you to reflect the efforts spent on the process of lifting and holding the car wheel before tightening the bolts.

Considering that the activity of an investigator as an object of forensic research is the subject of criminology as a science, it is necessary to point out that modeling in criminology means the mental activity of an investigator, in which, according to T.S. Volchetskaya, the initial ideas undergo a specific transformation – they are generalized, verbalized, transformed and, most importantly, become capable of further development, which passes the limits of the possibilities of external activity ^{[8, p.8]}.

Nevertheless, within the framework of this study, the investigator's activity will be analyzed as a model of the work of the subject of crime investigation, in this regard, the most correct way to understand modeling is a universal way of carrying out any activity based on the innate ability of consciousness to create images of real and imaginary reality ^[9].

It seems that the activity of the investigator is also subject to modeling. The need to model the investigator's activities, not excluding visualization using virtual reality technologies, is determined by the active development of digital technologies, in the context of which forensic science cannot be an exception. The activity modeled using virtual reality technologies and presented as a VR application can be used in two aspects:

Firstly, when teaching students studying the discipline of "criminology". In this aspect, students can immerse themselves in a virtual environment, performing the procedural actions necessary for a successful investigation of a crime. As a result of this format of training, the quality of the educational process will increase.

Secondly, for the successful work of the investigator himself. Virtual technologies allow you to simulate future investigative actions in advance, taking into account the specifics of the location of such actions. Preparation for investigative actions, through the use of VR technologies, will allow the investigator to take into account the most difficult stages of such investigative actions.

The success of the preliminary investigation depends on the activity of the investigator as a subject conducting criminal proceedings at the pre-trial stage of the criminal process.

The investigator's work is inextricably linked to the process of identifying the person who committed the crime throughout his entire activity - from checking the crime report to the moment when a decision is made to complete the investigation of the case.

The investigator, having criminal procedural independence, using the powers assigned to his procedural status, collects and consolidates information about the identity of the criminal.

To model the activities of an investigator to identify the person who committed the crime, it is necessary to investigate the structure of his activities.

Observing the laws of formal logic, we define the concept of "investigator's activity", since it underlies the reasoning about modeling the investigator's activity. After that, using a system-structural approach, we examine the investigator's activity as a system of interrelated components and organizational, investigative and investigative actions, determining the possibilities of systematization and typification of actions for modeling it using virtual reality technologies.

In Russian dictionaries, the concept of activity is interpreted ambiguously. For example, the great Soviet encyclopedia defines the concept of "activity" as a specific human form of active attitude to the surrounding world, the content of which is its expedient change and transformation ^[10]. The explanatory dictionary of S.I. Ozhegov defines activity as an occupation, work ^[11]. In turn, the small academic dictionary of the Russian language defines activity as work, occupation in any field ^[12]. Comparing different concepts, we note that activity is understood as activity in work, work that leads to changes.

R.F. Belkin, in his forensic encyclopedia, defined the concept of "activity" as a dynamic system of interaction between a subject and the world, specifically human, consciousness-regulated internal and external activity ^[13].

Such activity is expressed in the special procedural status of the investigator. Being a central figure in pre-trial proceedings, he is endowed with extensive powers to conduct investigative actions and make independent procedural decisions.

It seems that the subject of the investigator's activity is a specific need, it is she who performs the function of directing and regulating activities. For example, the commission of a crime by an unknown person creates a need for the investigator to establish it. Such actions of the investigator are developed in the criminalistic methodology and are regulated by the criminal procedure legislation, they can be expressed in the criminalistic task of finding a criminal.

Taking into account the above, the investigator's activity can be represented as actions regulated by the criminal procedure legislation, carried out by the investigator in order to expose the person who committed the crime.

Such activity can be presented in the form of a structure consisting of the following blocks: 1. actions at the stage of verification of a crime report 2. actions after the initiation of a criminal case.

The first block includes the actions provided for in Article 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of the Russian Federation. During the verification of a crime report, the investigator, simultaneously with receiving information about the fact of the commission of a crime, may collect information about a possible person who committed the crime. Thus, the investigator has the right to carry out various procedural actions, including obtaining an explanation from the victim and witnesses, to demand documents confirming the theft of funds by the criminal and objects involved in the commission of a crime, to seize them, appoint a forensic examination, take part in its production and receive an expert opinion, inspect the scene of the incident, documents, objects, examination, require the production of documentary inspections, audits, studies of documents, objects, corpses, involve specialists in these actions, give the body of inquiry a mandatory written order to carry out operational investigative measures.

After the initiation of a criminal case, the investigator's activities are aimed at collecting reliable data necessary to bring the person who committed the crime to criminal responsibility. In the course of such activities, the investigator conducts investigative actions aimed at obtaining information about the person who committed the crime, proving his involvement in the crime committed. Standard investigative actions are: conducting an inspection of the scene, search, seizure, interrogation of the victim, witnesses, suspect (accused), confrontations, investigative experiment and others.

Thus, it can be said that the investigator's activities can be displayed using virtual reality technologies with a high degree of accuracy. The investigator's work contains many algorithms that are not related to the performance of physical work, which allows you to create a virtual reality simulator that will reliably reflect the investigator's work process. Such algorithmization allows you to create several simulators for teaching students various typical situations and pay attention to specific details of resolving such situations.

These simulators will allow students studying the discipline "criminalistics" to familiarize themselves with the work processes that they will encounter after applying for a job in the internal affairs bodies. Students will already have minimal experience working with various typical situations that may arise during their work. Let's look at some of these situations:

– Inspection of the scene of the accident. A simulator for learning the right actions when doing this work will allow the student to correctly assess the scale and area of the accident site inspection area, as well as reduce his excitement when he does it in the real world. The element with the search for clues will allow you to familiarize the student with typical traces and details that are worth paying attention to. An important addition is that with the help of this simulator, you can familiarize a student with non-standard situations that develop during the investigation process, which will be difficult to demonstrate in the real world, which will help him pay attention to such evidence when performing his professional activities;

– Conducting an interrogation. Such a simulator will allow you to more clearly teach the student how to conduct an interrogation. The computer character contained in the program will answer the student's questions in the way provided for in the training program for the discipline "criminology". This will allow the student to memorize the typical answers of suspects during interrogation.

– Definition of remote fraud. A simulator in this area will familiarize the student with the main options for remote fraud and methods of interviewing the victim, since often the victim does not fully understand how the fraudster was able to deceive her. Based on the survey conducted, the investigator must determine the main means of committing fraud and conduct further analysis to establish the identity or location of the fraudster, after which he must send this information to further authorities.

The above examples of virtual reality simulators for investigators indicate that many of the investigator's work processes are subject to correct transfer to virtual reality for simulation in virtual reality. Such simulators will improve the educational process by making it more visual and interactive ^[14], which will increase the involvement of students in the study of the discipline "criminalistics". They will also allow them to gain minimal work experience and familiarize themselves with algorithms for solving typical situations, which will facilitate their integration in the workplace and reduce the stress that arises. Along with this, the possibility of using the VR simulator by the investigator himself is not excluded, for example, to practice actions in certain stages of future investigative actions.

The research was carried out as part of the implementation of the University's Development Program for 2021-2023 as part of the implementation of the strategic academic leadership program "Priority 2030", the project "Using virtual reality technologies to simulate the activities of an investigator to identify a person who committed remote fraud".