The CoC
The CoC is a form that legally ensures the integrity of evidence as it is exchanged between individuals, and so it also provides a level of accountability as personal identification is required when completing the forms. This form gives an exact log and account of the transportation and exchange between parties, from a collection at the scene to a presentation in a court.
Some of the typical fields on the CoC form are listed as follows:
- Case number
- Victim and suspect names
- Date and time seized:
- Location when seized
- Item number
- Description of item
- Signatures and IDs of individuals releasing and receiving the evidence
- Authorization for disposal
- Witness to the destruction of evidence
- Release (of evidence) to the lawful owner
The sample CoC form can be downloaded directly from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST):
https://www.nist.gov/document/sample-chain-custody-formdocx
I urge you to download the preceding form as...
