THE UNIVERSITIES GENERALLY HANDLE ONLY TEACHING AND RESEARCH WORK, ALTHOUGH PROFESSORS MAY BE CALLED UPON IN UNUSUAL CASES. BASIC FORENSIC SERVICES ARE PROVIDED BY THE PRACTICAL SERVICE NETWORK, WHICH IS PART OF THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH. THE U.S.S.R. IS COMPOSED OF 15 REPUBLICS AND EACH HAS ITS OWN DIRECTOR OF FORENSIC SERVICES. THE REPUBLICS ARE DIVIDED INTO REGIONS AND THE REGIONS INTO DISTRICTS. AGAIN, EVERY REGION HAS ITS BUREAU WITH A REGIONAL EXPERT AT THE HEAD. THERE IS, THEREFORE, A CONTINUOUS DIVISION OF RESPONSIBILITY FROM THE DIRECTOR OF THE SERVICE IN MOSCOW DOWN TO THE DISTRICT EXPERT, WHOSE WORK CONSISTS OF AUTOPSIES, EXAMINATION OF LIVING PERSONS IN CASES OF INJURY OR RAPE, EXAMINATION OF SCENES OF CRIMES AND VIOLENCE, AND THE GIVING OF EXPERT EVIDENCE IN COURT. THE DUTIES DO NOT INCLUDE THE EXAMINATION FOR DRUNKENNESS, PENSIONS, OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES, INSURANCE, OR MENTAL HEALTH. THE REGIONAL BUREAUS USUALLY INCLUDE A BIOLOGICAL AND A TOXICIOLGICAL LABORATORY, WHILE LARGER CENTERS ALSO HAVE X-RAY AND SPECTROGRAPHIC EQUIPMENT. THERE ARE ALSO CRIMINALISTICS LABORATORIES ORGANIZED ALONG THE SAME BRANCHING LINES BUT UNDER THE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE. THE FOCAL POINT OF THE STATE SERVICE IS THE INSTITUTE FOR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH IN FORENSIC MEDICINE IN MOSCOW, WHICH SERVES AS A SUPREME CONSULTATIVE INSTITUTE. THERE IS NO SHORTAGE OF TRAINEES IN LEGAL MEDICINE AND A LARGE NUMBER ARE WOMEN, FOLLOWING THE GENERAL PATTERN IN WHICH 75 PERCENT OF SOVIET DOCTORS ARE FEMALE. FORENSIC FINDINGS ARE GIVEN TO THE COURT AS A WHOLE AND ARE EQUALLY AVAILABLE TO THE PROSECUTION AND THE DEFENSE. (GLR)