Problems of Organizing Digital Interaction of an Investigator in Criminal Proceedings

The article examines the problems of organizing digital interaction of an investigator in criminal proceedings through the analysis of digitalization tools used for obtaining, transmitting, recording and verifying information at the pre-trial stage. The scientific problem lies in the fact that digital tools are already widely used in investigative practice, while the procedure for their application remains uneven and does not always ensure sufficient procedural traceability of electronic information. The purpose of the study is to analyze the main digitalization tools used in the interaction of the investigator with participants in pre-trial proceedings, public authorities, organizations and external information sources, as well as to identify the problems of their organizational and procedural application. The materials of the study include criminal procedure legislation of the Russian Federation, legislation on information and access to information, scholarly publications on the digitalization of criminal proceedings, judicial practice and the results of a survey of 14 investigative officers. The formal legal, systemic, structural and comparative legal methods were used, together with the analysis of judicial practice and qualitative generalization of empirical data. The study identifies information-search, communication, evidentiary, remote and security-related tools of the investigator’s digital interaction. It is concluded that their use increases the efficiency of investigation, but is accompanied by problems of confirming the source of digital information, preserving electronic objects, differentiating access, procedural recording and digital training of investigative officers. The practical significance of the study lies in the possibility of using the conclusions to improve departmental algorithms for working with electronic information, organizing digital document flow and developing procedural rules for handling digital evidence.

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