Which practice helps ensure the integrity of evidence across custody?

• A. It is unnecessary to track every person who handles the evidence.
• B. Evidence can be moved without documentation as long as security guards are present.
• C. The chronological record of every person who handled the evidence must be maintained to preserve integrity.
• D. The chain of custody is determined by court order.

Answer: (C)

Chain of custody is about preserving the integrity of evidence by documenting every person who handles it. Keeping a detailed, chronological log that records who touched the evidence, when they did so, why access was granted, where the item is stored or moved, and the condition of the evidence at each step creates a verifiable trail from collection to court. This continuous record lets investigators, prosecutors, and the court see that nothing was altered or tampered with and that each transfer or access is accounted for. A break in this log or moving the evidence without documentation can cast doubt on its reliability and may lead to suppression or challenges to its admissibility. While court orders may specify certain procedures, the foundational requirement is a complete, maintained chain of custody showing every custodian and every transfer.