LEGAL SUPPORT FOR THE USE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PROFESSIONAL TRAINING OF PERSONNEL INVOLVED IN THE EXECUTION OF CRIMINAL PUNISHMENTS

Abstract

The article examines current trends in digital transformation within the activities of law enforcement agencies involved in custodial and security functions and substantiates the pivotal role of information technologies in the professional training of its personnel. It is determined that the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) significantly reshapes the structure and content of the educational process in departmental educational institutions, ensuring the development of digital competencies required for effective operation in environments characterised by electronic registers, video surveillance systems, analytical platforms, and electronic document management. Particular emphasis is placed on the fact that technological modernisation of personnel training contributes to enhancing the effectiveness of professional duties, minimising security-related risks, and aligning training mechanisms with European standards of penitentiary and correctional practice. The study establishes that digital tools possess substantial potential for modelling professional situations through the use of simulators, virtual training environments, and distance learning platforms, enabling the improvement of practical skills without creating additional security threats or incurring excessive resource costs. Special attention is devoted to the legal aspects of ICT application, including gaps in the regulatory framework governing personal data protection, the determination of the legal status of electronic information, the standardisation of digital educational resources, and the regulation of cybersecurity procedures. It is demonstrated that the absence of a comprehensive legal framework generates risks of legal uncertainty and impedes the systematic implementation of digital technologies in personnel training and correction-oriented activities. Based on an analysis of scholarly sources, the article substantiates the necessity of improving legislation through the integration of technical regulations, the unification of digital procedures, and the establishment of a coherent information ecosystem supporting both educational and operational activities of the law enforcement agencies involved in the execution of criminal penalties in Ukraine. The study proposes directions for enhancing the effectiveness of legal support for digitalisation, including the modernisation of the regulatory framework, the development of digital literacy among personnel, the creation of integrated information systems, and the implementation of robust information security mechanisms.