Current issues of investigative actions in the context of digitalization of criminal proceedings

A study was conducted on the legal, forensic, and technological aspects of implementing digital technologies in the criminal justice system of the Russian Federation. Various perspectives on the prospects and methods of digitalizing criminal proceedings that exist in the scientific literature have been analyzed. An analysis was conducted on the impact of modern information technologies on the conduct of investigative actions. Both the expansion of information access and transformations within the established procedural framework have been identified. It was noted that the current Criminal Procedure Code of the Russian Federation contains a sufficiently flexible set of tools for obtaining evidence in the new conditions. In this regard, a step-by-step approach for implementing digital technologies in criminal proceedings has been proposed, including the legislative establishment of rules for using digital technical means, the introduction of an electronic format for criminal cases and the creation of specialized databases, as well as the development of corresponding digital platforms. The aim of the study is to analyze a step-by-step strategy for implementing digital technologies in criminal justice, based on an examination of the regulatory framework, scientific literature, and practical experience in both the Russian Federation and friendly countries. The necessity of a step-by-step approach to digitalization is justified, with priority given to modernizing the means of recording the progress and results of investigative actions to optimize routine operations and increase the efficiency of investigative bodies. The methodology includes comparative legal, formal legal, and systemic approaches, allowing for the identification of regulatory features, the definition of legal problems, and the proposal of their possible solutions. In conclusion, a step-by-step approach to digitalization is proposed, prioritizing the modernization of tools for recording the progress and results of investigative actions to optimize routine operations and increase the efficiency of investigative bodies.