Electronic Evidence in Criminal Procedure: Methods for Its Detection, Investigation and Legal Consolidation
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32353/khrife.3.2025.10Keywords:
electronic evidence; criminal procedure; criminalistics; digital technologies; evidence collection; procedural formalization; information security; authenticity; forensic digital examination.Abstract
The paper presents a comprehensive analysis of electronic evidence in the context of criminal procedure. Its place and significance within the evidence system were determined. The authors explore the essence of electronic evidence, its nature and peculiarities of storage, recording and further investigation. Emphasis is placed on the fact that development of digital technologies opens up new possibilities for collecting evidence. Conversely, it also leads to problems related to the admissibility and authenticity of such data. The article outlines the main sources of electronic evidence, including computer systems, mobile devices, servers, cloud services, video surveillance cameras, e-correspondence and other objects that contain digital information. Current forensic methods of collecting electronic evidence, including methods of identification, recording and extraction of information from physical media, were studied. Stages and procedures that must be followed to ensure information remains unaltered — crucial for its admissibility in a trial — were outlined. The authors stress the need to conform to the principles of integrity, confidentiality and credibility when working with digital evidence. The procedural aspect was given particular attention: the procedure for formalizing electronic evidence in compliance with the requirements of Ukraine’s criminal procedural legislation. Current rules governing the procedures for collection, storage and provision of such evidence in court were analysed. The main issues in law application practice include insufficient regulation of issues regarding the preservation of electronic evidence, the difficulty of establishing its authenticity, and the risk of falsification. The study underscores the importance of improving legislative framework and introducing uniform standards for working with electronic evidence. The paper outlines proposals to optimize the collection and processing of electronic evidence, and to introduce modern technical means and software that comply with international standards.
References
Anheleniuk, A.-M. (2023). Vykorystannia elektronnykh dokaziv u kryminalnomu protsesualnomu pravi Ukrainy (problemni pytannia) [The use of electronic evidence in the criminal procedural law of Ukraine (problematic issues)]. Naukovyi visnyk Uzhhorodskoho natsionalnoho universytetu. Ser iia: Pravo. Vyp. 79. Ch. 2. DOI: 10.24144/2307-3322.2023.79.2.32 [in Ukrainian].
Chaplynskyi, K. O. (2006). Taktyka provedennia okremykh slidchykh dii [Tactics for conducting individual investigative actions] : monohrafiia. Dnipropetrovsk. URL: https://surl.li/wwpdti [in Ukrainian].
Hutnyk, A. V., Khytra, A. Ya. (2022). Kryminalni protsesualni ta kryminalistychni osnovy vykorystannia elektronnykh dokumentiv u dokazuvanni [Criminal procedural and forensic foundations of using electronic documents in proving] : monohrafiia. Lviv. URL: https://surl.li/kdsnwm [in Ukrainian].
Hutsaliuk, M. V., Havlovskyi, V. D., Khakhanovskyi, V. H. ta in. (2020). Vykorystannia elektronnykh (tsyfrovykh) dokaziv u kryminalnykh provadzhenniakh [Application of electronic (digital) evidence in criminal proceedings] : metod. rek. / za zah. red. O. V. Korneika. Vyd. 2-he, dopov. Kyiv. URL: https://surli.cc/klrpaf [in Ukrainian].
Khyzhniak, Ye. C. (2017). Osoblyvosti ohliadu elektronnykh dokumentiv pid chas rozslid uvannia kryminalnykh pravoporushen [Peculiarities of the digital document review during the investigation of criminal offenses]. Derzhava ta rehiony. Seriia: Pravo. № 4 (58). URL: https://surl. li/xdtcgp [in Ukrainian].
Kovalenko, A. V. (2017). Osoblyvosti taktyky oh liadu elektronnykh dokumentiv pid chas dosudovoho rozsliduvannia posiahan na zhyttia ta zdorov’ia zhurnalista [The Features of Tactics of Inspection of Electronic Documents During the Pretrial Investigation of Infringements on the Life and Health of a Journalist]. Visnyk Natsionalnoi akademii pravovykh nauk Ukrainy. № 1 (88). URL: https://surl.li/ qulfww [in Ukrainian].
Maliuha, R. V. (2013). Dokazuvannia v kryminalnomu protsesi: problemy vyznachennia strukturnykh elementiv [Proving in criminal proceedings: issues in defining structural components]. Naukovi zapysky Lvivskoho universytetu biznesu ta prava. Vyp. 11. URL: http://nbuv.gov.ua/UJRN/ Nzlubp_2013_11_71 [in Ukrainian].
Metelev, O. P. (2023). Tsyfrovi dokazy u kryminalnomu protsesi: vydova kharakterystyka [Digital evidence in criminal procedure: typological characteristic]. Visnyk kryminalnoho sudochynstva. № 1 — 2. DOI: 10.17721/2413-5372.2023.1-2/42-53 [in Ukrainian].
Muradov, V. V. (2013). Elektronni dokazy: kryminalistychnyi aspekt vykorystannia [Digital Evidence: Criminalistical Aspects of Using]. Porivnialno-analitychne pravo. № 3-2. URL: https://pap-journal.in.ua/ wp-content/uploads/2020/09/3-2_2013. pdf [in Ukrainian].
Nazarko, A. (2023). E-Evidence in Ukrainian Criminal Justice: Exploring the Legal Realities and Theoretical Perspectives. Naukovyi visnyk Uzhhorodskoho natsionalnoho universytetu. Seriia: Pravo. Vyp. 80. Ch. 2. DOI: 10.24144/23073322.2023.80.2.28.
Pashkovskyi, M. I. (2023). Vykorystannia elektronnykh (tsyfrovykh) dokaziv u kryminalnykh provadzhenniakh pro kolaboratsiinu diialnist: praktyka sudiv Odeskoi oblasti [Employing digital (electronic) evidence in criminal proceedings on collaborative activities: court practice in the Odessa region]. Protydiia proiavam teroryzmu ta kolaboratsionizmu v umovakh viiny: stan ta perspektyvy : matly Vseukr. kruhl. stolu (Kropyvnytskyi, 24.11.2023). Kropyvnytskyi. URL: https:// surl.lt/wpqxyo [in Ukrainian].
Romaniuk, V. V., Fomina, T. H. (2024). Poriadok zbyrannia elektronnykh (tsyfrovykh) dokaziv u kryminalnykh provadzhenniakh pro kolaboratsiinu diialnist [Procedure for collecting electronic (digital) evidence in criminal proceedings concerning collaborative activities]. Visnyk Kryminolohichnoi asotsiatsii Ukrainy. T. 32. № 2. DOI: 10.32631/vca.2024.2.25 [in Ukrainian].
Shulha, V. (2024). Pravovi aspekty zastosuvannia tsyfrovykh dokaziv u kryminalnomu protsesi [Legal Aspects of Using Digital Evidence in Criminal Proceedings]. Didzhytalizatsiia sudovo-ekspertnoi nauky v umovakh voiennoho stanu : zb. mat-liv Mizhnar. nauk.-prakt. konf. (Kharkiv, 08.11.2024). Kharkiv. URL: https://surl.li/czlrua [in Ukrainian].
Skrypnyk, A. V. (2022). Vykorystannia tsyfrovoi informatsii v kryminalnomu protsesualnomu dokazuvanni [Use of digital information in the process of proving within criminal procedure] : monohrafiia. Kharkiv [in Ukrainian].
Stolitnii, A. V., Kalancha, I. H. (2019). Formuvannia instytutu elektronnykh dokaziv u kryminalnomu protsesi Ukrainy [Formation of the institute of electronic evidence in the criminal process of Ukraine]. Problemy zakonnosti. Vyp. 146. DOI: 10.21564/2414-990x.146.171218 [in Ukrainian].
Vapniarchuk, V. V. (2015). Vytrebuvannia ta otrymannia, provedennia inshykh protsesualnykh dii yak sposoby zbyrannia dokaziv u kryminalnomu provadzhenni [Requesting and Receiving, Other Procedural Actions as a Means of
Gathering Evidence in Criminal Proceedings]. Naukovyi visnyk Khersonskoho derzhavnoho universytetu. Seriia: Yurydychni nauky. Vyp. 3. T. 3. URL: https:// surl.lu/slaknh [in Ukrainian].
Shulha, V., Kaliuzhna, L. (2025). Electronic Evidence in Criminal Procedure: Methods for Its Detection, Investigation and Legal Consolidation. Theory and Practice of Forensic Science and Criminalistics. Issue 3 (40). P. 136 — 152. DOI: 10.32353/khrife.3.2025.10.
