Circular No. 98/2025/TT-BCA details the system for compensating forensic examination in criminal technical fields; the composition and number of persons performing tasks in cases of autopsy, post-mortem dissection, and exhumation.

CIRCULAR
Detailed regulations on the allowance for forensic examination in criminal technical fields; composition and number of persons performing tasks in cases of autopsy, post-mortem dissection, and exhumation

Pursuant to the Criminal Procedure Code No. 101/2015/QH13 amended and supplemented by Law No. 02/2021/QH15, Law No. 34/2024/QH15, Law No. 59/2024/QH15, and Law No. 99/2025/QH15;

Pursuant to the Forensic Examination Law No. 13/2012/QH13 amended and supplemented by Law No. 35/2018/QH14 and Law No. 56/2020/QH14; 

Pursuant to Decision No. 08/2025/QĐ-TTg dated April 4, 2025 of the Prime Minister on the allowance for forensic examination;

At the proposal of the Director of the Institute of Criminal Science,

Pursuant to the Government Decree No. 02/2025/NĐ-CP dated February 18, 2025, regulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Public Security amended and supplemented by Government Decree No. 11/2025/NĐ-CP;

The Minister of Public Security issues this Circular detailing the allowance for forensic examination in criminal technical fields;

composition and number of persons performing tasks in cases of autopsy, post-mortem dissection, and exhumation.

Article 1. This Circular stipulates the level of forensic examination allowance, time, and number of people conducting each type of criminal technical examination; composition and number of persons performing tasks in cases of autopsy, post-mortem dissection, and exhumation eligible for forensic examination allowance. Article 2. Persons entitled to the forensic examination allowance under this Circular include:

Article 1. Scope of Regulation and Applicability

a) Forensic examiners in the field of criminal technical science;

b) Assistants to forensic examiners including: assistants, technicians, and other individuals supporting forensic examiners in the field of criminal technical science who directly participate in the examination process and are assigned by the head of the organization requested to conduct the examination; technical officers in cases of autopsy, post-mortem dissection, and exhumation;

c) Investigators, prosecutors, judges assigned by competent state authorities to perform tasks when conducting examinations in cases of autopsy, post-mortem dissection, and exhumation.

Article 2. Level of allowance for forensic technical examination per day for each examiner

Clause 1. The level of 400,000 VND/day/person applies to examinations not covered by Clauses 2 and 3 of this Article.

Clause 2. The level of 500,000 VND/day/person applies to the following examinations:

a) Sound examination; digital and electronic technology examination; document, mechanical trace examination requiring specialized equipment emitting radiation or laser; chemical, biological, firearm, ammunition, fingerprint examination but not covered by Clause 3 of this Article;

b) Examinations that require contact with objects carrying dangerous infectious diseases or must be conducted in areas affected by dangerous infectious disease outbreaks classified as Group B under Point b, Clause 1, Article 3 of the Law on Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases; or must be conducted in contaminated environments but not covered by Clause 3 of this Article.

Clause 3. The level of 600,000 VND/day/person applies to the following examinations:

a) Fire and explosion examination; drug examination; chemical, biological, firearm, ammunition, mechanical trace examination requiring hazardous chemicals as prescribed by the Government or competent authority;

b) Examinations that require contact with objects carrying HIV/AIDS, extremely dangerous infectious diseases, or must be conducted in areas affected by extremely dangerous infectious disease outbreaks classified as Group A under Point a, Clause 1, Article 3 of the Law on Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases; or must come into contact with radioactive substances as prescribed by the Ministry of Science and Technology.

a) Fire and explosion examination; drug examination; chemical, biological, firearms and ammunition, technical, fingerprint examinations must use hazardous chemicals as prescribed by the Government and competent authorities;

b) The examination must involve contact with objects being examined infected with HIV/AIDS, carrying particularly dangerous infectious diseases, or must be conducted in areas experiencing particularly dangerous infectious disease outbreaks classified as Group A under point a, Clause 1, Article 3 of the Law on Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases; or must involve contact with radioactive materials as prescribed by the Ministry of Science and Technology.

Article 3. Time for forensic examination

The time for forensic examination is calculated from the start of the examination until its completion according to the forensic examination procedure and shall not exceed the deadline stipulated in the Criminal Procedure Code, the Law on Forensic Examination, and related regulatory legal documents.

Article 4. Number of forensic examiners in a criminal technical forensic examination case entitled to forensic examination allowance

1. In cases of individual examination, one forensic examiner and no more than two assistants to the forensic examiner are entitled.

2. In cases of collective examination, the number of forensic examiners and assistants to the forensic examiner is assigned by the head of the forensic examination organization, with the number of assistants not exceeding the number of forensic examiners.

3. In cases where the forensic examination is conducted by a Forensic Examination Board, the number of forensic examiners and assistants to the forensic examiner is decided by the Minister of Public Security, with the number of assistants not exceeding the number of forensic examiners.

Article 5. Composition and number of persons performing tasks for autopsy, post-mortem dissection, and exhumation cases entitled to forensic examination allowance

1. A maximum of three criminal technical officers; two investigators; two prosecutors when conducting autopsy, post-mortem dissection, and exhumation for one corpse.

2. A maximum of one judge when necessary to participate according to the provisions of procedural law.

Article 6. Transitional Provisions

1. In cases where the forensic examination has issued a forensic examination conclusion before May 20, 2025, the forensic examination allowance is implemented according to Decision No. 01/2014/QĐ-TTg dated January 1, 2014 of the Prime Minister on the forensic examination allowance system and Circular No. 49/2017/TT-BCA dated October 26, 2017 of the Minister of Public Security detailing the forensic examination allowance system in the field of criminal technical science; composition and number of persons performing tasks during forensic examination for autopsy, post-mortem dissection, and exhumation cases.

2. In cases where the forensic examination is ongoing and has not yet issued a forensic examination conclusion or has issued a conclusion from May 20, 2025 onwards until the date this Circular takes effect, the forensic examination allowance is implemented according to the provisions of Decision No. 08/2025/QĐ-TTg dated April 4, 2025 of the Prime Minister on the forensic examination allowance system and this Circular.

Article 7. Effective Date

1. This Circular takes effect from October 27, 2025.

2. Circular No. 49/2017/TT-BCA dated October 26, 2017 of the Minister of Public Security detailing the forensic examination allowance system in the field of criminal technical science; composition and number of persons performing tasks during forensic examination for autopsy, post-mortem dissection, and exhumation cases ceases to be effective from the date this Circular takes effect.

Article 8. Responsibility for Implementation

1. Heads of units under the Ministry of Public Security, Provincial Police Directors, heads of agencies and units, and individuals related to forensic examination activities within their functional and task scope are responsible for organizing the implementation of this Circular.

2. The Institute of Criminal Science is responsible for leading and coordinating with relevant units to guide, monitor, and inspect the implementation of this Circular.

During the implementation of this Circular, if there are any difficulties, public security units at all levels, localities, and relevant agencies, organizations, and individuals should send their opinions to the Ministry of Public Security (through the Institute of Criminal Science) for research and guidance./.