Evidence management
Maintaining a secure and unbroken chain of custody is critical in legal proceedings to ensure that the evidence is credible and has not been tampered with, contaminated, or mishandled. The chain of custody is the record-keeping process that tracks the handling, possession, control, transfer, and examination of evidence, both physical and digital, during an investigation or legal proceeding. Any break in the chain of custody can potentially compromise the admissibility of the evidence in court.
Key components of a chain of custody typically include:
- Collection: Detailed documentation of when, where, and by whom the evidence was collected.
- Transportation: Record of how the evidence was transported, including who transported it and the means of transportation.
- Storage: Information about where and how the evidence was stored, along with any changes in possession.
- Analysis: Documentation of any examinations, testing, or analyses performed on the...
