Efficient Digitization in Criminal Justice: Comparative Analysis of Developed and Developing Countries

Technology is tremendously developing around the globe. It is not just transforming our lives but every field is moving towards digital world. It is providing opportunities to every field to grow. Technology is usual interaction in professional and personal lives. Courts are also adopting technologies including Skype, summon by way of emails for efficient criminal judicial procedure. Courts, by adopting this, are making justice more accessible to common people. By practicing hybrid court system, courts are assuring inexpensive, fair, speedy justice. Globally recognition of E-Court System by developing and developed countries is giving judicial procedure a new shape.Many developed countries, including USA and Australia, run their courts by utilizing E-Court System. While developing countries are still in transitional phase. As Pakistan, India, Azerbaijan, Indonesia, Ghana are developing countries, by acknowledging the benefits of ICT have modified their judicial procedures. Pakistan is also adopting digitization in courts. Supreme Court has announced officially to practice e-court system via video link. Three member bench of Supreme Court initiated the e-proceedings of a case. Through that Pakistan has achieved a milestone by using technology for hearing cases through virtual system. It will for sure benefit lawyers and litigants in saving money and time. In India E-court mission project mode was started by e-committee on the basis of national policy and action plan for implementation of information and communication technology in 2005. Malaysia has initiated the paperless judiciary system. Using video conference call and advocate portal system. Ghana is a western African country. Ghana has adopted case tracking system for criminal matters and SMS alert mechanism for remand. Video conferences also practiced for pronouncement of judgment and hearing the witnesses. Co-founder of Intel Gordon Moore predicted that use of technology is spreading twice of every previous year. Now it is recognized universally in courts. In 2017, 20,000 video conferenced calls were installed in China. Few courts of China also adopted second generation E-Courts. Developed countries transformed their criminal justice procedure by applying technology. European Union countries designed and adopted new technologies rather traditional technologies. API-justice project initiated for adopting the European e-Justice Digital Service Infrastructure for external provider by way of APIs (Application Programming Infrastructure). Paper based documents translated into digital by using electronic devices. It is developing electronic management system. However, Pakistan has still not initiated the online registration of FIR. It is the loophole in criminal system which requires to be filled for fairness. Police do not register the case against elite class. It causes reason to spread inequality. Moreover, people loss their trust in courts. This institution needs to be transformed by using e-filing registration. It will provide the facility of check and balance and will prevent the corruption. Common citizens will not suffer the disrespect attitude of police.