The main object of this elite poster writing is to discuss how technologies have contributed to criminal processing and how they operate within the framework of criminal justice. Technology and information systems are among the key aspects of criminal justice environment since they provide storage and exchange of information, collection, and evaluation of evidences, and many other actions necessary for criminal procedures handling. Technologies also introduce some vagueness within the criminal justice. In this paper, we will consider influence and contribution of technology to criminal justice in detail. Also, we will discuss my suggestions as for the implementation of technology into the solution of certain issues.
One of the main aspects of criminal justice environment that technologies appear to be useful at is a criminal investigation. Information technologies are an important tool for investigation, because they further collection, storage, transfer, retrieval, and using of information related to criminal procedures. Besides it, information technology may automatize some general investigative tasks and thus allow completing of investigation in a shorter period than usual. Furthermore, technologies provide various divisions that allow implementation of necessary computer services, fingerprinting, crime recording, validating of crime scene evidences, high technology crime procedures, and other crucial issues.
From the methodological point of view, successful investigation is very important for a case outcome. According to the “Criminal justice, new technologies, and the Constitution”, any suspect, as a rule, enters the criminal justice system as a result of investigational process. In the past, technology has improved measures of investigation significantly and thus increased the ability of police to identify and capture criminals more successfully. Another contribution of technology to criminal justice is making law enforcement more proactive. According to the “Criminal justice technologies”, modern technologies provide the possibility to define any possible crime beforehand and prevent it before it happens. Therefore, technology is one of the most essential components in criminal justice environment.
It should be mentioned that the impact of technology on criminal justice not only brings certain merits, but also raises a lot of questions. It is underlined that technology is amoral, and it can be used either well or poorly. It is noticed in the “Criminal justice technology” that for some reason, technology might interfere with freedoms of citizens. One of the possible causes of it is that modern technologies might detect more suspects among innocent people than usual and require their thorough legal examination. Another complication that arises from the implementation of information technologies is concerned with uncertainty of their advantages in criminal procedures. Despite the fact that lots of money is annually spent on information technology, its actual contribution to the organizational goals is still obscure.
Information technology should be implemented correctly. For this purpose, I would propose its constant monitoring and modernization. As it has been mentioned, technology allows preventing of a crime before it takes place. At the same time, it is always necessary to gather the latest data about criminals and track all possible places where a crime might happen. To cope with this task, it is crucial to implement the most modern and perfect computerization. I would also propose to create a common local database with the possibility to share certain information among several criminal facilities. Such cooperation, in my opinion, would further an appropriate implementation of technology into the criminal justice environment.
As one can see, information technology has a positive influence on criminal legal procedures. Although its exact contribution remains unclear and it might violate one’s personal freedoms, its advantages in criminal justice environment are obvious. The technology offers a wide range of options to perform various legal procedures more quickly and convenient. To implement technology appropriately, I would propose the utilization of the most modern information systems, creation of a common database of investigation, and cooperation among several criminal management facilities.