CRIMINALISTICS INSTITUTIONS IN EASTERN EUROPE ARE PATTERNED AFTER THE SOVIET MODEL. THE STRUCTURE OF THE SYSTEM OF SPECIALIZED CRIMINALISTICS INSTITUTIONS IN THE SOVIET UNION INVOLVES THREE LEVELS. ONE GROUP OF INSTITUTIONS COMES UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE. THESE INSTITUTIONS ANALYZE CASES ASSIGNED BY LEGAL AND INVESTIGATIVE ORGANS AND CARRY OUT SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH. ANOTHER GROUP OF INSTITUTIONS COMES UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS AND DEALS WITH CRIME INVESTIGATION AND PREVENTION. THE THIRD GROUP OF INSTITUTIONS IS COMPRISED OF CRIME LABORATORIES OF THE COMMITTEE ON STATE SECURITY. SPECIAL ATTENTION IS GIVEN BY THESE INSTITUTIONS TO INVESTIGATIONS RELATED TO SUSPECT IDENTIFICATION. SOME CRIMINALISTICS WORK IS CARRIED OUT BY THE BUREAU OF FORENSIC MEDICINE WITHIN THE MINISTRY OF PUBLIC HEALTH. ACCORDING TO THE SOVIET CRIMINAL CODE, CRIMINALISTICS INVESTIGATIONS MAY BE HANDLED, AS A RULE, ONLY BY SPECIALISTS OF GOVERNMNENT ORGANIZATIONS. IN THE EASTERN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES, SPECIALIZED CRIMINALISTICS WORK IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF INSTITUTIONS UNDER MININSTRIES OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS. CRIMINALISTICS ACTIVITIES IN CZECHOSLOVAKIA, EAST GERMANY, POLAND, HUNGARY, BULGARIA, AND ROMANIA ARE DETAILED. THER USE OF TECHNOLOGY BY CRIMINALISTICS INSTITUTIONS IN SOCIALIST COUNTRIES AND COOPERATION AMONG CRIMINALISTICS INSTITUTIONS IN THE COUNTRIES ARE DISCUSSED. REFERENCES ARE CITED. (DEP)