What is the purpose of maintaining chain-of-custody for evidence?

• A. To document the handling and transfer of evidence from collection to court
• B. To lock up evidence indefinitely
• C. To destroy evidence after use
• D. To share evidence publicly

Answer: (B)

Chain-of-custody is the process of documenting every person who handles the evidence and every transfer of that evidence from the moment it’s collected until it’s presented in court. This creates an unbroken, verifiable record showing that the evidence has remained under control and unchanged, so its integrity is maintained and it can be trusted in legal proceedings. The goal is to prove that the same item collected at the scene is the one that goes to the lab and to the courtroom, without tampering or contamination.

This isn’t about locking up evidence forever, destroying it after use, or sharing it publicly. Those actions don’t serve the aim of ensuring integrity and admissibility. If the chain of custody is broken or improperly documented, the evidence can be challenged or deemed inadmissible in court.