Chain of Custody: Scaling the Investigation to the Event

Abstract

The chain of custody is described as the procedure for preserving and recording facts. The chain of custody is the most thorough and evaluative method of documenting data. In a legal proceeding, it aids in testing the validity and permissibility of facts relevant to a crime. The validity of the evidence can be determined by comparing the evidence gathered to that found at the crime scene. Evidence, whether tangible or intangible, plays an important role in criminal investigations. It aids in the recovery of a crime, as well as the recognition of the likely assailant or culprit, ensuring their authenticity which is necessary to maintain superiority. The chain of custody is a set of measures that begins when an investigator takes custody of evidence at a crime scene and is followed by each inspector general officer throughout the investigation. The chain of evidence report provides a detailed list of the individuals who gathered the evidence, processed the evidence, transported the evidence, and when and by whom the evidence was examined. The officials’ ethical and professional responsibilities include maintaining the chain of custody. Evidence mislabeling, evidence modification, unauthorized personal access, and inadequate storage are all examples of these circumstances of the evidence that results in breakdown of chain of custody. If the custody chain is broken during the investigation, the evidence becomes tainted with the crime, which may make it more difficult to convict.