Criminal investigation and digital technologies: some considerations on predictive policing and the admissibility of digital evidence

This article addresses the use of predictive technologies as a guidance tool for public policies. It aims to examine how security forces use data processing and warn of the risks of indiscriminate application of these approaches. Furthermore, it attempts to view the chain of custody as crucial to guaranteeing the authenticity and integrity of evidence, especially in the context of digital evidence. The research is qualitative and exploratory. The technique of analyzing documents from legal and criminological literature was used, through hypothetical-deductive method, to assess how new technologies, specifically artificial intelligence, impact on criminal investigation and the Brazilian criminal process. It is necessary to adapt legal procedures to the digital era, especially regarding the admissibility of digital evidence, by examining its integrity and authenticity. It is concluded that there is an urgency to adapt criminal investigation procedures, given the influence of virtualization on criminal prosecution, since legal arguments now depend on digital tools and evidence.

Key-words
Criminal investigation; Predictive policing; Digital evidence; Chain of custody