The Primary Reason for Maintaining the Chain of Custody on Evidence

C.

This is the PRIMARY reason for the chain of custody of evidence.

Evidence must be controlled every step of the way.

If it is not, the evidence can be tampered with and ruled inadmissable.

The Chain of Custody will include a detailed record of: Who obtained the evidence - What was the evidence - Where and when the evidence was obtained Who secured the evidence - Who had control or possession of the evidence The following answers are incorrect because : To ensure that no evidence is lost is incorrect as it is not the PRIMARY reason.

To ensure that all possible evidence is gathered is also incorrect as it is not the PRIMARY reason.

To ensure that incidents were handled with due care and due diligence is also incorrect as it is also not the PRIMARY reason.

The chain of custody is a history that shows how evidence was collected, analyzed, transported, and preserved in order to establish that it is sufficiently trustworthy to be presented as evidence in court.

Because electronic evidence can be easily modified, a clearly defined chain of custody demonstrates that the evidence is trustworthy which would make it admissible in court.

Reference : Shon Harris AIO v3 , Chapter-10: Law, Investigation, and Ethics , Page : 727

The primary reason to maintain the chain of custody on evidence that has been collected is to ensure that it will be admissible in court. The chain of custody refers to the chronological documentation or paper trail that records the sequence of individuals who have had custody, control, or possession of the evidence from the time it was collected until it is presented in court. This documentation should include details such as who collected the evidence, when and where it was collected, who handled it afterwards, and how it was stored and secured.

Maintaining the chain of custody is essential for establishing the authenticity and integrity of the evidence in court. It demonstrates that the evidence has not been tampered with, contaminated, or altered in any way that could affect its reliability or credibility. If the chain of custody is broken or compromised, it can cast doubt on the validity of the evidence and potentially jeopardize the case.

Therefore, maintaining the chain of custody ensures that the evidence is preserved in its original state and that its integrity and authenticity are beyond reproach. This is crucial for ensuring that justice is served and that the evidence is used appropriately in legal proceedings. The other options listed, such as ensuring that no evidence is lost, ensuring that all possible evidence is gathered, and ensuring that incidents were handled with due care and due diligence are also important, but they are not the primary reason for maintaining the chain of custody.