STRUCTURE

Research and methodical work department
Ballistic and trace examinations department
Sound and handwritings examinations department
Questioned document examination department
Physical and chemical examinations department
Biological examinations department
Road accidents examinations department
Economical examinations department
Engineering-technical examinations department
Psychological examination department
Nakhichevan branch

The Criminal Investigation Bureau was established in August 1938 under the People’s Justice Commissariat of Azerbaijan SSR.

In June 1951, by the order of the USSR Council of Ministers this Bureau was eliminated.

In June 1956 based on the order of the Council of Ministers of the Azerbaijan SSR Baku research criminal laboratory was created with three members of staff.

In December 1960, Azerbaijan Research Institute of forensic examination was established based on this laboratory as part of the Judicial Commission of the Council of Ministers.

In June 1991, this institution was renamed as Azerbaijan Research Institute of the Problems of Forensic Sciences, Criminalistics and Criminology.

On August 17th 2006 Azerbaijan Research Institute of the Problems of Forensic Sciences, Criminalistics and Criminology was renamed as the Forensic Sciences Center under the new structure of the Ministry of Justice and it was granted with the authority of chief administration.

Main activities of the Center:

forensic examination and research;
esearches, preparation and improvement of new methods of the expert researches;
provides scientific-methodic assistance to the law courts and law-enforcement bodies;
carries out expert prophylaxis;
other activities assigned by the legislation.

The centre provides the forensic examinations; research works in the field of criminalistics, criminology and other related fields of law; including the scientific board and the doctorate with arrangement of thesis statement. The centre engages on organizing the defense of scientific works. Expert prophylaxis, criminological investigations aiming to reveal the reasons of crimes and the circumstances in which they had been committed and research to prevent them in the future, methodical recommendations, examination assignment and evaluation of expert review is carried out with purpose of assisting the court and law-enforcement agencies.

Based on the results of provided researches the Centre is issuing magazine called “Current issues in Forensic Examination, Criminalistics and Criminology” and other publications.

Currently forensic examination provides 22 types and 44 specializations.Fields of expertise:
Alcohol
Author identification
Biological (drugs/ plant/animal/ground)
Counter fact objects
Digital Imaging
Economical
Engineering-technical (Fire and Explosion)
Environmental 
Explosives
Fibres
Fingerprint
Firearms
Glass, ceramics, silicate
Handwriting
Information Technology
Intellectual property objects
Linguistic
Marks
Metals
Monetary
Oil, lubricant
Paint, polymer
Portrait, phototechnical
Psychological
Road accident
Speech and Audio
Synthetical drugs, pharmaceutical, psychotropical
Questioned document

Appropriate organizations were contacted to obtain the accreditation from the National Accreditation Body, which is actually in process.

One of the most important parts of the Justice system of Azerbaijan Republic, is that the state forensic examinations, juridical, organizational basics and major implications were determined by the “State forensic examination Law”. By the Decree of President of Azerbaijan Republic the application of this Law concern the Forensic Sciences Center of the Ministry of Justice, Forensic Medicine, Pathological and Anatomical Unit and Forensic Psychiatric Center of the Ministry of Health.

Director of Forensic Sciences Center is Mr. Fuad Javadov, the 3rd degree of state juridical advisor, Doctor of Laws.