Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. Faking mental illness or attempting to deceive legal or medical professionals is illegal and unethical. The following content is a translation of a public article and does not encourage or condone any unlawful actions.

Forensic Medicine and Its Role in Criminal Proceedings

Forensic medicine is a specialized, organized system of scientific knowledge used to resolve medical questions that arise during legal proceedings and law enforcement activities. This article discusses how knowledge of forensic medicine can be misused to falsify evidence, successfully simulate or hide traces of a crime. The goal of such actions is not always a premeditated crime—sometimes, people find themselves in situations where they feel there is no other way out and must look for solutions after the fact.

The practical significance of this article lies in the possibility of fully or partially avoiding punishment for a committed crime by preparing oneself, the time and place of the crime, simulating or dissimulating certain disorders, analyzing potential opportunities, and seeking legal loopholes.

Example of practical use: Simulating a mental disorder in criminal proceedings can result in a reclassification of punishment from imprisonment to compulsory treatment in a prison-type hospital, to compulsory treatment in a general hospital, to voluntary treatment in a day hospital, or simply reduce the prison term. In practice, sentences can be reduced to one-third of the maximum term.

Areas of Forensic Medicine Covered

• Criminal proceedings involving a forensic medical expert
• Criminal proceedings involving a forensic psychiatric expert
• Forensic medical examination of living persons
• Forensic medical examination of corpses
• Forensic psychiatric examination of living persons
• Forensic psychiatric examination of offenders
• Forensic psychiatric examination of conscripts

Key Articles of the Russian Criminal Code (UK RF)

Article 21: Insanity

If you were insane at the time of the crime, you will be exempt from punishment. Compulsory treatment is only assigned if your condition is decompensated (ongoing and worsening). If you are in a compensated stage, treatment is not assigned. Insanity must be due to a mental disorder and only during a specific time period. The severity of the disorder at the time of the crime determines sanity.

Article 22: Criminal Responsibility with Non-Excluding Mental Disorders

This covers borderline states—neurotic and psychotic disorders in a compensated stage, which may affect the ability to understand and control actions. Affect, intoxication, and strong emotional tension do not qualify as insanity. In practice, such a diagnosis can reduce the sentence.

Article 23: Criminal Responsibility for Crimes Committed While Intoxicated

Intoxication is almost always considered an aggravating circumstance and usually increases the sentence.

Article 61: Mitigating Circumstances

The more mitigating factors, the shorter the sentence.

Article 62: Sentencing with Mitigating Circumstances

Having a disease can reduce the sentence to one-third. Combined with remorse and a special trial procedure, it is possible to get one-third of the maximum term or a lighter type of punishment.

Article 63: Aggravating Circumstances

Aggravating factors increase the sentence, sometimes to the maximum allowed.

Article 72.1: Sentencing for Drug Addiction

In practice, this means outpatient visits to a narcologist with urine tests, ranging from daily to six months.

Article 81: Release from Punishment Due to Illness

Compulsory treatment is assigned in most cases. If less than two-thirds of the sentence has been served, you may be sent back to finish your term if you “recover” too soon.

Article 82.1: Postponement of Punishment for Drug Addiction

This usually means two years of monitoring by a narcologist. Do not commit crimes or miss appointments during this period. After stable remission, the punishment is canceled.

Article 97: Grounds for Compulsory Medical Measures

If you do not appear severely ill, you may only have a short stay followed by outpatient observation. Compulsory treatment can be assigned even for mild illnesses.

Article 98: Purpose of Compulsory Medical Measures

Do not rush your “recovery.”

Article 99: Types of Compulsory Medical Measures

These are usually either radical (stay in a special hospital for the full term) or mild (outpatient observation), depending on the case.

Article 100: Outpatient Psychiatric Observation and Treatment

Do not miss appointments and be polite with your doctor.

Article 101: Compulsory Treatment in a Psychiatric Hospital

This is almost like prison, but with different supervision. Prepare for strict conditions. Do not antagonize staff—your stay depends on it. “Don’t trust, don’t fear, don’t ask, and keep quiet.”

Article 102: Extension, Change, and Termination of Compulsory Medical Measures

After six months of compulsory treatment, you are usually transferred to outpatient observation.

Article 103: Credit for Time Spent Under Compulsory Medical Measures

Time spent in treatment counts as time served.

Article 104: Compulsory Medical Measures Combined with Punishment

Same as above.

Article 107: Murder Committed in a State of Affect

Pathological affect cannot occur in a completely healthy person. If you want to reclassify your case, you must have a disease. Otherwise, affect may be considered physiological, which does not exclude sanity.

Key Articles of the Russian Criminal Procedure Code (UPK RF)

• Article 57: Expert – The expert only gives a professional opinion; law enforcement makes the decision. Do not give extra information; stick to your story.
• Article 80: Expert Testimony – Do not trust requests for “off the record” information. Stick to your story.
• Article 178: Examination of a Corpse, Exhumation – Rare, but can be done quickly if needed.
• Article 179: Medical Examination – No comment needed.
• Article 180: Examination Protocols – Destroy all items related to the crime. Fire is the best way to destroy evidence.
• Article 195: Appointment of Forensic Examination – Refusing an examination raises suspicion.
• Article 196: Mandatory Forensic Examination – Refusal is only possible with clear evidence of natural death.
• Article 203: Placement in a Medical Organization for Examination – Standard duration is 30 days.
• Article 204: Expert Conclusion – No comment needed.
• Article 433: Grounds for Compulsory Medical Measures – Compulsory treatment cannot be assigned otherwise.
• Article 434: Circumstances to Be Proven – Having medical records, prescriptions, etc., is helpful.
• Article 435: Placement in a Psychiatric Hospital – No comment needed.
• Article 436: Separation of Criminal Cases – It’s never too late to be “mentally ill.”
• Article 437: Participation of the Person and Their Legal Representative – In practice, only investigators are allowed to visit you in the hospital. Arrange meetings with your lawyer in advance.
• Article 438: Participation of Defense Counsel – No comment needed.

Forensic Psychiatric Section

Who You Will Meet and What Examinations to Expect

• Psychiatric expert (main decision-maker)
• Psychologist-expert (supports the psychiatrist’s conclusion)
• Narcologist (long visit for drug-related cases, short for others)
• Specialist doctor (narrow specialty)
• Neurologist (mandatory for differential diagnosis)
• Therapist and surgeon (mandatory for somatic assessment)
• Investigator and detective (liaison with law enforcement)
• Outpatient forensic psychiatric examination (level 1)
• Inpatient general or expert department (level 2)
• Closed regime (level 3)

Stages of Forensic Psychiatric Examination (FPE)

1. Clinical interview and examination
2. Repeat visit if needed
3. Inpatient examination (30–90 days) if needed, including general medical exams, consultations, functional and instrumental tests (body fluid analysis, ECG/EEG, REG, EchoEG, cranial X-ray, MSCT)
4. Psychological and pathopsychological testing (projective methods, assessment of thinking, perception, memory, intelligence, praxis, and gnosis, self-report questionnaires, specific tests)
5. Dynamic observation
6. Examination in a closed institution if needed

The outcome of the FPE can be:

• Recognition as insane
• Recognition as partially sane
• Recognition as sane
• Recognition as ill with verification of case circumstances
• Assessment of work capacity and life impairment
• Assessment of danger to society, self, and self-care ability

If illness is recognized outside the criteria for sanity, compulsory treatment may be assigned.

How Compulsory Treatment Is Assigned in Practice

1. Social danger of the act: If a person with a recognized mental illness commits a non-dangerous crime, compulsory treatment is usually not assigned. If a “healthy” person commits a dangerous crime while insane, compulsory treatment is necessary.
2. Connection between illness and motive: If a crime is committed due to affective instability (e.g., buying marijuana to improve depression), compulsory treatment is not indicated. If the crime is committed under imperative hallucinations (e.g., a voice commands the act), compulsory treatment is directly indicated.
3. Timing: If the mental disorder after the crime is incurable, compulsory treatment is indicated. If it is temporary, inpatient treatment is not indicated. For drug addiction, compulsory measures are often assigned without a set end date; only a court can cancel treatment.

General Rules for Simulation

1. Start simulating before committing the crime.
2. Plan your simulation in advance—read literature on the disorder and consult a specialist.
3. Visible signs of simulation should be confirmed by several people—relatives, friends, investigator, local doctor.
4. Start simulating from your first contact with law enforcement, staying in character.
5. Do not overdo the simulation—it should be subtle and consistent.
6. Remember you are always being observed.
7. Be calm and confident; convince yourself you have the disorder.

Comments on the Rules

1. If you plan ahead (e.g., you are a carder and at risk), visit a psychiatrist and complain of a personality disorder or depressive episode, undergo outpatient or day hospital treatment. This creates a record and familiarity with the system.
2. Poor simulators either underplay or overplay symptoms and get confused in their stories.
3. Let your relatives know you have been “sick” and under psychiatric observation.
4. Do not immediately tell the investigator about your illness; your behavior should match your supposed pathology. Only mention it if asked about psychiatric observation.
5. Do not invent new symptoms; stick to established patterns.
6. Behavior should match your disorder (e.g., a schizoid says they read books, not “hang out with the guys”).
7. If you stop worrying about being caught and focus on “having” the illness, you are less likely to slip up.

Glossary

• Simulation: Deliberately deceiving others by feigning symptoms of a non-existent illness.
• Dissimulation: Deliberately deceiving others by hiding an actual illness.
• Aggravation: Deliberately exaggerating symptoms of a real illness (unlike simulation).
• Deaggravation: Deliberately downplaying symptoms of a real illness (unlike dissimulation). In the last three cases, the person is actually ill.

Common Mistakes in Simulation

If you start simulating only at key moments (arrest, trial, etc.), it is a sign of lying. Do not simulate only at critical points! If you fail to start immediately, do it gradually and consistently. Never exaggerate the number, quality, or duration of symptoms—this will get you labeled as an “aggravator” and dismissed.

Types of Simulation

• Simulation before the crime—easily confirmed with a psychiatric record.
• Simulation during the crime—can be attributed to illness and used to avoid responsibility due to insanity or pathological affect.
• Simulation after the crime—least effective, but possible.

Criteria

• Symptoms should be consistent, not change from temporary to permanent.
• Symptoms should fit a specific disorder, not just random symptoms.
• Psychiatric symptoms are divided into positive (should not be present in healthy people, e.g., delusions, hallucinations) and negative (should be present in healthy people, e.g., mood decline, emotional coldness).

Example: Simulating Hallucinations

Doctors may use suggestive techniques to induce pathological perception. Remember and repeat what you “see and hear” when asked. “I don’t really remember” is an acceptable answer.

1. If given a phone or similar object and asked what the voice says, describe the tone, manner, pitch, content, and type of conversation in detail.
2. If the doctor presses on your eyes while talking, imagine seeing what they describe (e.g., “flashes of light”).
3. If given an object while being touched, describe the sensation (e.g., “cold and prickly”).
4. If shown a blank sheet and asked what you see, invent and remember a scene. If asked about a “house” or “color,” imagine and elaborate on it.

Such tests apply to all types of pathology—thinking, memory, intelligence, will, perception.

Military Psychiatric Examination

Psychiatric fitness for military service is classified as:

• A – fit
• B – slightly limited fitness
• C – limited fitness
• D – temporarily unfit
• E – unfit

The classification depends on the course, type, stage, and compensation period of the illness. “D” means absolute exemption from service.

Common Psychiatric Articles in Military Draft Boards

• Article 14 – Organic disorders (Alzheimer’s, Niemann-Pick, Parkinson’s, etc.)
• Article 15 – Endogenous psychoses (schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, etc.)
• Article 16 – Exogenous disorders (brain injuries, etc.)
• Article 17 – Neurotic disorders (stress-related, etc.)
• Article 18 – Personality disorders (psychopathy, etc.)
• Article 19 – Substance use disorders (including drug addiction)
• Article 20 – Intellectual disability
• Article 21 – Epilepsy (including epileptoid psychopathy)

It is impossible to fake articles 14, 20, 21 without actually having the condition. Faking drug addiction is a last resort. Article 16 is difficult without somatic or neurological defects. That leaves articles 15, 17, and 18—these are the easiest to simulate. Schizophrenia is hard to fake; it’s easier to simulate schizoid or schizoaffective personality disorder, or a depressive episode. Such a diagnosis only limits you from government service.

Conclusion

In most cases, psychiatric examination works in your favor—it counts toward your sentence, reduces punishment, and gives you time to think. Treat it with respect, and it will benefit you.