Enhancing Evidence Integrity and Trust in the Criminal Justice System: A Design and Evaluation of the Blockchain Enabled Evidence Securing and Tracking (BEST) Application

This research explores the development process, underlying methodologies, and potential impact of the Blockchain-enabled Evidence Securing and Tracking (BEST) Application. The application’s core objective is to improve security, transparency, and accountability during the criminal investigation process. The BEST application enhances evidence integrity, strengthens trust in the justice system, and leads to more effective, scientifically oriented presentation of the case before the courts. This research contributes to the field of law enforcement by showcasing a user-centric, blockchain-powered solution for secure and transparent evidence management. The current criminal justice system faces challenges in maintaining evidence integrity and building trust due to the discretion, omission, replacement, and processes that are susceptible to manipulation. The research work proposes an application that leverages the attributes of blockchain technology for evidence management by employing the user-centered design principles for improving the evidence integrity, transparency, and accessibility throughout the investigation and trial processes.