The beginning of the 21st century marked the rapid development of the modern information technology industry. And today, the products of this industry can be found in almost all areas of public life.
Examples of information technology are diverse. Take the gadgets. These achievements of modern technology are firmly established in the everyday life of any person. It is difficult today to imagine an employee or businessman who does not use a computer or mobile phone to carry out his activities.
Definition of a concept
So what is information technology? In modern publications, one can find several different approaches to the definition of this concept. One of them, according to the majority of scientists, is the most correct, given in the writings of E.V. Nadygina. According to this author, information computer technologies are technologies based on the achievements of computer technology, as well as communication tools. Moreover, they represent a set of processes that affect information, and are a tool for its receipt. Such technologies allow for interaction between people and are a way of creating legislation, making joint decisions and developing the state legal system.
Tasks of information technology in law
The latest achievements of science and technology are applied in various areas of public life. Also widely used are information technologies in legal activity. Here they allow you to solve certain problems that arise in the performance of professional duties.
First of all, information technologies in legal activity help to significantly speed up the search, processing and subsequent analysis of the necessary information. In addition, they are used for the rapid exchange of various information, as well as for the provision of data requested by government bodies, including within the framework of judicial procedures.
Information technologies in legal activities are designed to help employees obtain not only legal information. They allow you to find various analytical and statistical data necessary to solve a particular issue. Information is also made available to the lawyer in any of the related areas of social activity. Such data can be obtained from specialized databases providing data, legal reference programs or the Internet.
The development of information technology allows the lawyer to significantly reduce the time to analyze the numerous options that are allowed by the circumstances of the case in order to choose the only one from among them. This contributes to a more informed decision-making within the framework of a specific legal case.
Today, every workplace of a corporate lawyer, legal adviser or lawyer is equipped with computer technology that allows you to perform an on-line search in a particular legal system. To ensure uninterrupted access to such systems, an information technology department is being created. Its employees accompany legal programs, ensuring the implementation of a unified technical policy of the institution.
THX
The very first and most significant achievement of information technology that made life easier for every lawyer is the creation of a legal reference system. By the 60–70s of the last century, a considerable amount of paper information was accumulated in terms of volumes relating to documents of domestic as well as international law and many others. Over time, the systematization of these paper media became more and more difficult.
In the same period, the development of information technology began, which prompted lawyers to turn to specialists in the computer field who successfully completed their task. Already in 1967, a computer program for the search for legal information appeared in Europe. In our country, the first ATP was introduced in 1975, but at the initial stage, access to its information was limited. Only in the 80–90s of the last century did the situation radically change. There are numerous legal systems designed for a wide range of users. Since 2011, mobile ATPs have also been introduced. Work with them is possible with a PDA and mobile devices.
AIS
Information technologies in legal activities have been further developed with the introduction of automated information systems. Today, AIS are successfully used in the field of public administration, legal proceedings, expert, law enforcement and other activities. Examples of information technology for this plan are different. So, there are AIS:
- for use in law enforcement;
- allowing electronic proofing (AGIPS, ADIS, etc.);
- for search activities (AGIPS "Owl", GIS "Mirror");
- allowing an examination;
- for the judiciary.
Since 2005, for the convenience of using AIS, automated workstations (AWS) have begun to spread widely in law enforcement agencies. This allowed by the end of 2006 to go far in creating the Unified Information and Telecommunication System of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation. With its help,
complex automation of the activities of investigators and heads of investigative authorities has become possible.
The implemented software used as an information technology tool is designed to provide support to employees of any level in the investigation of crimes.
Electronic document management
The role of information technology in the work of legal bodies has increased significantly since the introduction of EDI. Electronic document management, together with its electronic signature (EP), were developed and implemented as a result of the implementation of the Electronic Russia target program.
Today, EDI is constantly being improved, transforming into electronic evidence and a system for evaluating them. This is allowed by such regulatory documents as the Code of Civil Procedure, the Code of Criminal Procedure, as well as the Russian agro-industrial complex.
Electronic document management in the legal field appears in the form of:
- electronic evidence;
- an electronic system evaluating this evidence.
Electronic evidence is audio and video recordings, electronic correspondence, SMS-messages, etc. They are accepted for consideration when they bear the traces of any offenses. These can be letters with threats, SMS fraud, etc.
Electronic Document Security
EDI and ES are elements that create the protective support of information technology. This allows code locks and anti-virus programs, a system of logins and passwords, etc.
Technical devices
Some information technology tools have had a strong impact on the legal sphere, providing the ability to record, obtain, and research evidence. Their list contains equipment that allows you to make audio and video recordings, etc. The state security bodies have been using such tools since their invention. Mobile devices for information communications help to obtain evidence. These include tablet PCs and multimedia smartphones.
The latest technical capabilities are provided by a mobile witness protection tool . It is a whole complex of technical devices, which includes:
- webcam;
- plasma panel;
- Columns
- microphone;
- instrument that changes the voice of a witness.
Videoconferencing
VKS refers to those information technologies that lawyers have been using for a long time. Today, videoconferencing is able to provide for the consideration of cases in court in the event of the remote location of witnesses, convicted persons or victims. The effectiveness of such technologies is obvious.
They save time, money and effort. The videoconferencing system allows you to abandon the transfer of the defendant, who is in another city, to clarify only some of the circumstances of the case.
Legal Portals
To date, there are several of the most popular websites containing legal plan information. The value of such portals lies in the availability of automated online information systems (summaries), judicial acts, etc. In Western European countries, a special program is being implemented located on legal state portals. It allows you to submit documents to the arbitration court for legal entities and individuals.
Use of digital information
As evidence of a perfect offense, data from recording devices installed to work in automatic mode is often taken. It can be:
- car recorders located in vehicles;
- video cameras installed on roads, near ATMs, in entrances, etc.
All information obtained from such data banks is accepted as evidence.
The rapid development of scientific and technological progress allows us to constantly improve methods and means of combating crime. So, the connection of subscriber devices can already be taken into account for opening a criminal case. Obtaining concrete evidence is possible only after the adoption of the relevant decision by the court. Such investigative actions became possible after the adoption of Federal Law No. 143-FZ of 07/01/2010.
Accounting
The development of information technology allows the internal affairs bodies to register the primary information received about crimes and their perpetrators. Such a system allows covering 95% of criminal episodes, which, in turn, characterizes the operational situation in the regions and in the country.
The information contained in such an account in recent years has allowed the disclosure of 19 to 23 percent of crimes. This is one in four of the offenses involved in the criminal investigation.