Electronic evidence in criminal proceedings: problematic issues of theory and practice

The article summarises the scientific developments regarding the concept and essence of electronic evidence and provides the author’s own definition to the concept of “electronic (digital) evidence” in criminal proceedings; examines the regulatory framework for the use of electronic (digital) eviden...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: T. H. Fomina, O. O. Rachynskyi
Format: Article
Language:Ukrainian
Published: Kharkiv National University of Internal Affairs 2023-10-01
Series:Bulletin of Kharkiv National University of Internal Affairs
Subjects:
Online Access:https://visnyk.univd.edu.ua/index.php/VNUAF/article/view/639
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1832557751912366080
author T. H. Fomina
O. O. Rachynskyi
author_facet T. H. Fomina
O. O. Rachynskyi
author_sort T. H. Fomina
collection DOAJ
description The article summarises the scientific developments regarding the concept and essence of electronic evidence and provides the author’s own definition to the concept of “electronic (digital) evidence” in criminal proceedings; examines the regulatory framework for the use of electronic (digital) evidence in criminal proceedings; analyses the investigative and judicial practice and the practice of the Supreme Court regarding the admissibility of such evidence in criminal proceedings. It has been admitted that today the problem of regulating electronic (digital) evidence is relevant. The analysis of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine makes it possible to understand that electronic (digital) evidence has almost no legal regulation, which negatively affects the quality and effectiveness of criminal proceedings. As a result, a number of legislative contradictions arise. Unlike other procedural laws (commercial, civil and administrative), criminal procedural legislation does not contain any provisions on electronic (digital) evidence. At the same time, there are positive trends at the legislative level to recognise the need to regulate electronic (digital) evidence in criminal proceedings. It has been determined that today there is no unified approach among scholars to understanding the concept, features and place of electronic evidence in the system of sources of evidence in criminal proceedings. It is proposed to use the term “electronic (digital) evidence” at the legislative level. This is substantiated by the fact that “electronic” indicates the type of device with which the evidence was created and stored, and “digital” refers to the type of recording the formation on the relevant device. The analysis of investigative and judicial practice has highlighted the ambiguity in the understanding of law enforcement officers regarding the collection of electronic evidence. This issue was the subject for consideration by the judges of the Criminal Court of Cassation of the Supreme Court (in particular, the procedure for assessing electronic evidence and its admissibility was explained in the decision of the Joint Chamber of the Criminal Court of Cassation of the Supreme Court dated 29 March 2021 in case No. 554/5090/16-к). Taking into account international experience in collecting electronic (digital) evidence allows the use of the Berkeley Protocol in criminal proceedings in Ukraine, as it is actively used by the international community and is relevant in the context of russia’s armed aggression against Ukraine.
format Article
id doaj-art-edff469d1b76419ca2fe39eadb2908cf
institution Kabale University
issn 1999-5717
2617-278X
language Ukrainian
publishDate 2023-10-01
publisher Kharkiv National University of Internal Affairs
record_format Article
series Bulletin of Kharkiv National University of Internal Affairs
spelling doaj-art-edff469d1b76419ca2fe39eadb2908cf2025-02-03T02:42:57ZukrKharkiv National University of Internal AffairsBulletin of Kharkiv National University of Internal Affairs1999-57172617-278X2023-10-011023 (Part 2)20722010.32631/v.2023.3.43639Electronic evidence in criminal proceedings: problematic issues of theory and practiceT. H. Fomina0O. O. Rachynskyi1Kharkiv National University of Internal AffairsKharkiv National University of Internal AffairsThe article summarises the scientific developments regarding the concept and essence of electronic evidence and provides the author’s own definition to the concept of “electronic (digital) evidence” in criminal proceedings; examines the regulatory framework for the use of electronic (digital) evidence in criminal proceedings; analyses the investigative and judicial practice and the practice of the Supreme Court regarding the admissibility of such evidence in criminal proceedings. It has been admitted that today the problem of regulating electronic (digital) evidence is relevant. The analysis of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine makes it possible to understand that electronic (digital) evidence has almost no legal regulation, which negatively affects the quality and effectiveness of criminal proceedings. As a result, a number of legislative contradictions arise. Unlike other procedural laws (commercial, civil and administrative), criminal procedural legislation does not contain any provisions on electronic (digital) evidence. At the same time, there are positive trends at the legislative level to recognise the need to regulate electronic (digital) evidence in criminal proceedings. It has been determined that today there is no unified approach among scholars to understanding the concept, features and place of electronic evidence in the system of sources of evidence in criminal proceedings. It is proposed to use the term “electronic (digital) evidence” at the legislative level. This is substantiated by the fact that “electronic” indicates the type of device with which the evidence was created and stored, and “digital” refers to the type of recording the formation on the relevant device. The analysis of investigative and judicial practice has highlighted the ambiguity in the understanding of law enforcement officers regarding the collection of electronic evidence. This issue was the subject for consideration by the judges of the Criminal Court of Cassation of the Supreme Court (in particular, the procedure for assessing electronic evidence and its admissibility was explained in the decision of the Joint Chamber of the Criminal Court of Cassation of the Supreme Court dated 29 March 2021 in case No. 554/5090/16-к). Taking into account international experience in collecting electronic (digital) evidence allows the use of the Berkeley Protocol in criminal proceedings in Ukraine, as it is actively used by the international community and is relevant in the context of russia’s armed aggression against Ukraine.https://visnyk.univd.edu.ua/index.php/VNUAF/article/view/639criminal proceedingsevidenceprocess of proofelectronic evidencedigital evidenceadmissibility of evidence.
spellingShingle T. H. Fomina
O. O. Rachynskyi
Electronic evidence in criminal proceedings: problematic issues of theory and practice
Bulletin of Kharkiv National University of Internal Affairs
criminal proceedings
evidence
process of proof
electronic evidence
digital evidence
admissibility of evidence.
title Electronic evidence in criminal proceedings: problematic issues of theory and practice
title_full Electronic evidence in criminal proceedings: problematic issues of theory and practice
title_fullStr Electronic evidence in criminal proceedings: problematic issues of theory and practice
title_full_unstemmed Electronic evidence in criminal proceedings: problematic issues of theory and practice
title_short Electronic evidence in criminal proceedings: problematic issues of theory and practice
title_sort electronic evidence in criminal proceedings problematic issues of theory and practice
topic criminal proceedings
evidence
process of proof
electronic evidence
digital evidence
admissibility of evidence.
url https://visnyk.univd.edu.ua/index.php/VNUAF/article/view/639
work_keys_str_mv AT thfomina electronicevidenceincriminalproceedingsproblematicissuesoftheoryandpractice
AT oorachynskyi electronicevidenceincriminalproceedingsproblematicissuesoftheoryandpractice