GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF CRIMINALISTIC TECHNIQUES: SCIENTIFIC FOUNDATIONS, METHODOLOGICAL STRUCTURE, AND PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

            This article provides an in-depth scientific examination of the general principles of criminalistic techniques as a foundational branch of forensic science. Criminalistic techniques encompass the system of scientific methods, technical tools, and methodological rules used to detect, fix, preserve, examine, and interpret material traces of crime. The study analyzes the conceptual basis, historical development, methodological structure, and interdisciplinary nature of criminalistic techniques. Drawing from natural sciences, engineering, digital technologies, procedural law, and forensic practice, the article demonstrates how technical forensic tools enhance the accuracy, reliability, and evidentiary strength of criminal investigations. The research reveals that correct application of criminalistic techniques requires adherence to scientific objectivity, validity, reproducibility, safety, and legality, forming the backbone of modern forensic examinations.