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21. 1. 2026
Workshop “Expert Opinion as Evidence”
On 21 January, we held another workshop titled “Expert Opinion as Evidence” for attorneys and trainee attorneys. Dr. Závora demonstrated how to evaluate expert reports effectively and what questions to ask expert witnesses to prompt them to document the methodology by which they reached their conclusions. The atmosphere was excellent, although many participants expressed strong skepticism based on their experience with courts taking an indifferent approach to the review of expert evidence. We also welcomed representatives of the Šalamoun association—Václav Peričevič and film director Zuzana Piussi—whose documentary Pachová stopa (Scent Trail) highlights shortcomings in forensic odorology reports. Reports in this field are a typical example of the broader failure—by experts and by the justice system alike—to require and provide a documented, step-by-step reasoning process for resolving technical questions. It must be noted that unless Czech courts insist on detailed justification of each step taken by expert witnesses, the reliability of expert conclusions cannot be assured.
4.-5. 12. 2025
The 46th Czech–Slovak Conference on Forensic Psychiatry
At the beginning of December, the traditional 46th Czech-Slovak Forensic Psychiatry Conference took place at Bohnice Psychiatric Hospital, in the main hall of the Divadlo za plotem theatre. Dr. Jiří Závora chaired the section “Expert Report and Its Reviewability”. Together with JUDr. Jiří Pleva, Ph.D., from the Supreme Public Prosecutor’s Office, and MUDr. Marek Páv, Ph.D., MBA, Chair of the Forensic Psychiatry Section of the Psychiatric Society of the Czech Medical Society of J. E. Purkyně (ČLS JEP), they discussed what it means for expert reports addressing the (non-)criminal responsibility of perpetrators of serious crimes to be reviewable. The central message of this section was an appeal for forensic psychiatrists to document the entire process of solving the expert question (analytical procedure) so that expert reports are reviewable—i.e., so that the court can rely on the conclusion as not merely the expert’s assertion or impression, but as the reliably documented outcome of a thorough examination. Current Czech legislation governing expert activities imposes an obligation on experts to document their entire procedure (Sections 52–58 of Decree No. 503/2020 Coll.), enabling each step of the expert’s process to be reviewed, the evidential basis of the conclusions to be verified, and, in many cases, exceptionally serious consequences arising from erroneous expert conclusions to be avoided.
5. 12. 2025
“False evidence for 30 crowns, experiment shows. Most authorities failed”
Seznam Zprávy reacts to our experiment, in which we repeatedly tested the error rate in the official certification of copies of documents (vidimace). Just as in 2017, the authorities in 2024 showed an enormous error rate, and it is therefore still possible, even after seven years, to obtain fake “evidence” for 30 crowns. Unlike the results from 2017, last year’s experiment is specific in that it presents “The Story of Vidimace in the Czech Republic” – a portrayal of the hard-to-grasp attitude not only of front-line officials to vidimace, but unfortunately also of supervisory authorities. Officials underestimate vidimace and consider it insignificant in terms of its possible consequences, and supervisory authorities are completely indifferent to the whole issue. The worst stance was taken by the Chamber of Notaries, as expressed by its president, Mgr. Neubauer. It may be understandable that officials and supervisory authorities are unable to fully foresee the serious consequences of incorrect vidimace, as these require the specialist expertise of court experts in the fields of document examination and handwriting identification. Nevertheless, we already familiarised the supervisory authorities with this issue in detail in 2017. Their attitude has not changed and the error rate remains extraordinarily high. Since 2017, we have amassed extensive correspondence with all supervisory institutions, which shows that no one is interested in a systemic solution to vidimace. And because we are convinced that this is a systemic problem, we have not published the names of the authorities that made mistakes in both experiments, as we consider that unfair. In practice, it would merely turn them into scapegoats for a large number of authorities that would also make mistakes if we were to test the error rate in vidimace nationwide. You can read the full article about our experiment and the subsequent response from the state administration here.
28. 11. 2025
Where is the expert-witness system headed? Dr. Závora at the Ombudsman’s Office conference
On 28 November 2025, the conference “Where is the expert-witness system headed?” was held in the large Otakar Motejl conference hall in Brno, organised by the Office of the Public Defender of Rights and the Defender of Children’s Rights under the auspices of the Deputy Public Defender, JUDr. Vít Alexander Schorm. PhDr. Jiří Závora, Ph.D. et Ph.D., a member of our institute delivered a paper entitled “From conclusions to terms of reference: what are we actually reviewing?” as part of a panel focused on the experiences of the professional community with expert reports.
The conference followed up on the findings of the Ombudsman’s Office that the expert-witness system has serious flaws and faces systemic problems – from a shortage of experts in key fields to poor-quality reports and the absence of uniform standards for expert work. It is telling that, at the very time of the conference, a heated dispute was already under way between the Ombudsman’s Office and the Ministry of Justice, which refused to provide the Deputy Ombudsman with information on how it supervises court-appointed experts and conducts administrative offence proceedings against them, even though the Ministry itself is required by law to ensure the quality of expert work.
Publicly available information shows that the Deputy Ombudsman has, among other things, drawn attention to the case of an expert who produced an average of one report per day, and to concerns that ministerial supervision of experts is random, non-transparent and often impossible to review, even for the experts themselves. In a situation where expert reports determine the removal of a child from parental care, the restriction of legal capacity or detention in a psychiatric facility, we consider it unacceptable that it is not possible to independently verify how the state manages these risks.
IFSP has long focused on the reviewability of expert reports and on structuring the expert’s work “from conclusions back to sources”. In this context, we fully endorse the demand formulated by the Deputy Ombudsman in his press release “The expert-witness system has serious flaws. The Deputy Ombudsman is therefore launching an investigation”, which we recommend to readers as a key reference text.
11. 11. 2025
Seminar “Forensic evaluation of mental state”
Dr. Jiří Závora, a member of our institute, participated as a lecturer in a professional seminar organized by the Judicial Academy entitled “Forensic evaluation of mental state”. Together with other experts—Dr. Jiří Michalec, Dr. Marek Páv, Dr. Jiří Pleva, Dr. Martin Richter, Dr. Jiří Říha, and Dr. Katarína Tejnská—he led a panel discussion that replaced the traditional lecture format. The discussion focused on the examination of mental state in criminal proceedings and new regulations governing expert activities.
10. 11. 2025
Sexological expert opinion
A monograph by the renowned Czech sexologist Dr. Brichcín was published, with contributions from Dr. Závora, a member of our institute, in the chapter devoted to expert opinions: Páv, M., & Závora, J. (2025). Sexuologický znalecký posudek. In S. Brichcín, Soudní sexuologie. Grada
29. 10. 2025
Forensic psychiatric study – Gender Disparities in Czech Forensic Psychiatric Inpatient Care
A member of our institute, Dr. Jiří Závora, participated in a unique forensic psychiatric study by MUDr. Marek Páv, Ph.D.: 14 CZ facilities (n=838). Significant differences between women and men: length of stay 893 vs. 1358 days, different diagnoses, different medication, significant differences in unmet needs of women: relationships, self-care, housing, work.
13. 10. 2025
Gender Disparities in Czech Forensic Psychiatric Inpatient Care
A member of our institute, Dr. Jiří Závora, is the co-author of an article that has been accepted for publication in the scientific journal Frontiers in Psychiatry. The study examines gender differences in needs in Czech forensic psychiatric inpatient care during short-term stays. The research included 85 women and 753 men from 14 forensic psychiatric facilities in the Czech Republic.
16.-18. 6. 2025
European Council for High Ability (ECHA) Conference in Karlstad
A friendly atmosphere and plenty of opportunities to share the results of one’s own research – that was ECHA 2025 in Karlstad. “The organisers obviously aimed to encourage PhD students and emerging researchers to contribute to and gain as much as possible from the conference – they arranged a workshop for us, mingled with us in the audience, and showed genuine interest in the details of our projects. During the poster session, Prof Tracy Riley, a keynote speaker from New Zealand, stopped by and immediately and openly started talking about what she had enjoyed about my oral presentation. The chair of the organising committee, Prof Valerie Margrain, came up asking if we had already published the results and suggested several suitable journals,” says Jana.
16.-18. 6. 2025
European Council for High Ability (ECHA) and International group for Mathematical Creativity and Giftedness (IgMCG) conference
In mid-June, combined European Council for High Ability (ECHA) and International group for Mathematical Creativity and Giftedness (IgMCG) conference was held in Karlstad, Sweden. On this occasion, Mgr. Jana Pleskotová presented a case study exploring the experience of gifted teenagers attending mainstream lower-secondary schools. The results of the research, co-authored by a member of our institute, Mgr. Hana Sirotková, attracted a relatively wide audience and became the subject of interesting discussions enriched by an international context.
20. 6. 2025
Analysing length of stay disparities in inpatient forensic psychiatric care: A cross-sectional study in Czechia
A member of our institute, Dr. Jiří Závora, is co-author of an article published in the International Journal of Mental Health Systems. The study deals with the length of stay in inpatient forensic psychiatric care in the Czech Republic. It is a study on a cohort of 765 patients from the 8 largest hospitals in the Czech Republic. Differences between hospitals were found, differences related to the type of diagnosis as well as lengthening or shortening of length of stay depending on the type of treatment.
22. 5. 2025
RESULTS OF THE VIDIMATION EXPERIMENT
In 2017, we conducted an experiment to test the quality of the verification. The results were shocking. Offices verified the forgery in 77 % of the cases! We repeated the experiment in June 2024. We wanted to give the time to improve. The offies did, but not very significantly. In the second experiment, the forgery was verified 60 % of the time!
To educate the public about the danger behind such a high error rate, we created a series of illustrative videos called The Czech verification way. We will also be publishing an expert article in a scientific journal. Last but not least, we will inform the public through the media.
15. 4. 2025
Methodology for evaluation of attestation case studies of future clinical psychologist
The procedure of the expert, which is, according to the proposal of a member of our institute, Dr. Jiří Závora, the principle concept of reviewability of expert opinions in the new legal regulation of expert activities, has been newly implemented also in the Methodology for the evaluation of attestation case studies of future clinical psychologists. Dr. Závora participated in this methodology as a consultant. Future experts in the field of clinical psychology will thus learn the procedure of an expert already in their pre-attestation training. It is expected not only to improve the general quality of the practice of clinical psychologists in the Czech Republic, but also to improve the work of future experts in this extremely important branch of justice. The prism of the expert’s procedure will clarify the justification of the choice of diagnostic methods and their lege artis application.
31. 3. 2025
Workshop for law firm
A member of our Institute, Dr. Jiří Závora, trained the litigation team of one of the leading Czech law firms, PRK Partners, s.r.o. The subject of the interpretation was the expert’s procedure according to the new regulation of expert activity in relation to the reviewability of the expert’s report.
19. 2. 2025
Unique study on the causes of juvenile delinquency – girl
Members of our institute, Dr. Závora and Mgr. Skořepa, are co-authors of a recently published study in an impacted scientific periodical.
This is a unique qualitative research study that examines the experiences of adolescents from otherwise functional families and environments who nevertheless engage in delinquent behavior. The most difficult part of this research has been to locate these extremely specific cases (boys and girls) and to understand this specific experience.
12. 2. 2025
Wechsler Intelligence Test for Children
IFSP member, Mgr. Hana Sirotková, collaborated on the Czech adaptation of the 5th version of the Wechsler Intelligence Test for Children (WISC-Vuk). The author of the Czech adaptation of this test is Dr. Dana Krejčířová. It is an important diagnostic tool that has been waiting for its update for a long time.
7. 2. 2025
Workshop: Expert opinion as evidence
On Friday, we trained attorneys in a practical workshop on: Expert opinion as evidence. The workshop had a very constructive atmosphere in which the rich experience of the attorneys was shared. Dr. Zavora explained the difference between an expert’s procedure and a report on that procedure, by which the expert demonstrates how he or she has solved the expert question.
20. 1. 2025
Expert Forensic Science
A member of our institute, Mgr. Bohdana Nováková, gave an invited lecture at the Expert Forensic Science conference held on 21-22 January in Mikulov. She presented the procedure of a forensic expert from the perspective of a lawyer.
21. 12. 2024
A unique study on the causes of juvenile delinquency
Members of our institute, Dr. Závora and Mgr. Skořepa, are co-authors of a study accepted by an impacted scientific periodical.
The study deals with a case of delinquent behaviour of an adolescent girl in whom the usual causes of such behaviour are not present. This is a long-term project of our institute to publish two thematically similar case studies (a boy and a girl). In this case, the second study is of a girl who committed multiple thefts. This is unique qualitative research that explores the experiences of children from otherwise functional families and environments who nevertheless commit large-scale delinquent acts. The most difficult part of this project was finding juvenile delinquent who come from functional families.
The study deals with a case of delinquent behaviour of an adolescent girl in whom the usual causes of such behaviour are not present. This is a long-term project of our institute to publish two thematically similar case studies (a boy and a girl). In this case, the second study is of a girl who committed multiple thefts. This is unique qualitative research that explores the experiences of children from otherwise functional families and environments who nevertheless commit large-scale delinquent acts. The most difficult part of this project was finding juvenile delinquent who come from functional families.
29. 11. 2024
Podcast recording Expert Stamp
The next episodes of the Expert Stamp podcast have been recorded. Dr. Závora together with doc. Dufek and dr. Dřínovský from FAST VUT and doc. Krabec from VŠE, they explain the next steps of the expert procedure, based on their experiences from examinations of candidates for registration in the list of experts. The podcast may also be useful for already appointed experts, attorneys, judges, etc.
7. 11. 2024
Workshop: Expert opinion as evidence (from the lawyer´s poin of view)
We have prepared a seminar in which we will explain the compulsory procedure of the expert to attorneys and law clerks. Participants will undergo practical training in which they will acquire the ability to recognize the deficiencies of an expert’s report that prevent its reviewability.
The seminar will be led by a member of our Institute, Dr. Jiří Závora, the author of the expert’s procedure in the new regulation of expert activities.
20. 10. 2024
EXPERT STAMP – 1. Assignment of the expert opinion
Together with the Faculty of Civil Engineering at Brno University of Technology, we have produced a podcast miniseries dedicated to new candidates for the expert stamp. The podcast features 4 members or chairmen of the examination committees, doc. Zdeněk Dufek, doc. Tomáš Krabec, Dr. Lukáš Dřínovský and a member of our institute, Dr. Jiří Závora, who is the author of the new expert witness procedure. The expert procedure is intended to improve the reviewability of expert reports. All four experts are prominent personalities in the field of Czech expert witnessing with unique experience.
You can already listen to the first episode on Spotify and YouTube.
17. 9. 2024
The guidelines of Prosecutor General´s Office
A member of our institute, Dr. Závora, has been involved in consulting on the guidelines of commissioning of sample questions for psychiatric experts in criminal proceedings, prepared by the Prosecutor General´s Office. The methodology is of particular importance when commissioning expert reports in the field of health care, branch of psychiatry, which are to address the issue of the offender’s sanity. The aim of the guidelines is to improve the practice of law enforcement authorities and psychiatric experts in the performance of their expert activities.
29. 8. 2024
European Council for High Ability (ECHA) Conference
At the end of August, the 19th European Council for High Ability (ECHA) Conference took place in Thessaloniki. At the conference, the lead author, Jana Pleskotová, presented a case study of a ten-year-old boy with exceptional ability. The co-authors were members of the Institute, Hana Sirotková and Jiří Závora. The poster was well received. Among other conference participants, our poster caught the attention of the president of ECHA and the organisers of the next ECHA 2025 conference to be held in Karlstad. Thanks to Jana for a great representation!
26. 8. 2024
A unique study on the causes of juvenile delinquency
Members of our institute, Dr. Závora and Mgr. Skořepa, are co-authors of a recently published study in an impacted scientific periodical. The study deals with a case of delinquent behavior of an adolescent in whom the usual causes of such behavior are not present. This is a long-term project of our institute to publish two thematically similar case studies (a boy and a girl). This is a unique qualitative research study that explores the experiences of children from otherwise functional families and environments who nevertheless engage in extensive delinquent behaviors. The most difficult part of the research is to find these extremely specific cases and understand this specific experience.
6. 5. 2024
Award for the best law journal in the Czech and Slovak Republics
The scientific law journal AUCI (SCOPUS) is competing for the award of the best law journal in CZ and SK. A member of our institute, Dr. Jiří Závora, last year published in AUCI a theoretical study on the new principle of reviewability of expert evidence, which he authored. Structural evidence was inserted into the current regulation of expert evidence on the basis of a study from 2017, which Dr. Závora prepared at the request of the Ministry of Justice.
30. 4. 2024
Dr. Jiří Závora lectured on expert witness procedure at the Faculty of Law of Charles University
A member of our Institute, Dr. Jiří Závora, lectured on the procedure of an expert according to the new regulation of expert activities in the fields of psychology and identification of the writer at the Faculty of Law of Charles University. The lecture took place within the course of forensic expert witnessing, which is conducted by JUDr. Martin Richter, Ph.D. from the Department of Criminal Law of the Faculty of Law of Charles University.
23. 4. 2024
Lecture for students of the Law Faculty of Charles University
A member of our institute, Dr. Jiří Závora, lectured students of the Faculty of Law of Charles University on the issues of the expert’s procedure in the current regulation of expert activities.
18. 4. 2024
Workshop for officials of the Ministry of Justice
A member of our institute, Mgr. Hana Sirotková, led a workshop for officials of the Ministry of Justice, Insolvency Department and the Department of Court Experts and Interpreters on 18 April. The workshop focused on mapping the strengths of individuals and using them within the team.
4. 4. 2024
Meeting of the Advisory Council of the Ministry of Justice
A member of our Institute, Dr. Jiří Závora, was an invited guest at the meeting of the Advisory Board for Economics of the Ministry of Justice of the Czech Republic. The discussion was held on the issues of the application of the expert’s procedure in the economic sectors of expertise.
27. 3. 2024
Educational event for expert psychiatrists
Members of our institute, Dr. Závora and Mgr. Skořepa, participated in an educational event of the Judicial Academy for psychiatric experts. The key topic was the reviewable procedure of the expert in solving professional questions concerning the sanity of offenders. The main speakers were Dr. Pleva and Dr. Tejnská from the NSZ.
20. 3. 2024
Dr. Jiří Závora was examing new applicants for expert authorization at the Ministry of Justice
A member of our institute, Dr. Jiří Závora, was testing new applicants for expert authorization as a methodologist at the Ministry of Justice for the fourteenth time. This time it was in the field of fire protection. This extremely important forensic field was represented in the examination committee by Doc. Ing. Petr Kučera, PhD. and the other member of the commission Mgr. Radek Kislinger.
5. 2. 2024
We provided an interview on the causes of poor quality work of forensic experts
The media image of Czech experts is shaped by highly problematic cases, but many experts in the Czech Republic are doing top-notch work, said in an interview for Seznam Zprávy given by members of our institute, Dr. Jiří Závora and Mgr. Bohdana Nováková.
24. 1. 2024
VUT Brno – training of experts of the Faculty of Civil Engineering
A member of our institute, Dr. Jiří Závora, gave an invited lecture at a top expert workplace, Brno University of Technology, Faculty of Civil Engineering. The topic of the lecture was of course related to the procedure of an expert according to the new legal regulation of expert activities in the Czech Republic.
21. – 23. 9. 2023
Internship for the University of Amsterdam
For the students of the Master Forensic Science programme we arranged a three-day internship which included lectures on the new regulation of expert performance in the Czech Republic (Dr. Závora), on the interdisciplinary project on speaker identification (Mgr. Skořepa) and on the falsity of expert opinion in the decision-making practice of courts in the Czech Republic (Mgr. Nováková).
23.5.2023
The Judicial Academy, Kroměříž
Dr. Jiří Závora held a lecture for the judges of the Kralovehradecky region in Kroměříž on the structural concept of reviewability in the new regulation of expert performance
April 2023
Workshop on signature verification for the Czech National Bank
March 2023
Study on the interpretation of the meaning of the codified expert procedure according to the new regulation
Dr. Jiří Závora published a study in the prestigious law journal AUCI (SCOPUS) in which he interpreted the broader meaning of the structural concept of the reviewability of expert’s report. The codification of the expert’s procedure (§ 52 Regulation No. 503/2020 SB) and the requirements of an expert’s report (§ 41 Regulation No. 503/2020 SB) was based on Dr. Závora’s study published in 2017.
November 2022
Jerome’s Days
Participation in the panel discussion Interpreter is also just a person – Ethical, professional and psychosocial risks of the interpreting profession
June 2022
The Judicial Academy, Kroměříž – training course for judges
Procedure of the expert according to the new regulation of expert performance
June 2022, Justiční areál Na Míčánkách
The Judicial Academy – mental care for interpreters
Mental care for Ukrainian language interpreters
November 2021 – March 2022
Cooperation with Czech National Bank
Workshop: Training for bank tellers – comparing signature with the signature specimen
October 2021
Echo24.cz
Comment on President Miloš Zeman’s signature on the document convening the session of the Chamber of Deputies
New legal regulation of expert performance
The previous legal regulation of expert performance did not provide sufficient conditions for the expert report assessment. Based on the assignment of the Ministry of Justice of the Czech Republic, a study proposing a structure-based expert procedure was formulated by a member of our institute Dr. Jiří Závora.
Institute of Forensic Sciences Prague – justification is essential…
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