Regulatory Responsiveness and Policy Adaptability in Managing Emerging Digital Evidence Within Criminal Justice Systems in Nigeria
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47604/ijlp.3590Abstract
Abstract
Purpose: To aim of the study was to analyze the regulatory responsiveness and policy adaptability in managing emerging digital evidence within criminal justice systems.
Methodology: This study adopted a desk methodology. A desk study research design is commonly known as secondary data collection. This is basically collecting data from existing resources preferably because of its low cost advantage as compared to a field research. Our current study looked into already published studies and reports as the data was easily accessed through online journals and libraries.
Findings: Regulatory responsiveness and policy adaptability significantly enhance the effective management of emerging digital evidence within criminal justice systems by improving evidentiary admissibility, case resolution efficiency, and judicial consistency. Jurisdictions with flexible and clear legal frameworks demonstrate faster adaptation to new technologies, reduced procedural disputes, and higher conviction reliability. Conversely, rigid or outdated regulations contribute to evidentiary exclusion, case delays, and inconsistent judicial outcomes.
Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: Adaptive governance theory, legal realism theory& institutional theory may be used to anchor future studies on the regulatory responsiveness and policy adaptability in managing emerging digital evidence within criminal justice systems. From a practical standpoint, criminal justice institutions should prioritize capacity building to enhance the handling of emerging digital evidence. At the policy level, governments are encouraged to adopt technology-neutral and forward-looking legal frameworks that can accommodate evolving forms of digital evidence.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Bolaji Yetunde
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