An officer collected physical evidence in a sexual assault investigation but did not make a record of its collection. This means the chain of custody was violated.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The chain of custody refers to the chronological documentation or paper trail that records the sequence of custody, control, transfer, analysis, and disposition of physical or electronic evidence. Not making a record of the collection of evidence violates the chain of custody by leaving a gap in the documentation that tracks the evidence's handling, which is crucial for ensuring its integrity and admissibility in court.

An Officer Collected Physical Evidence in a Sexual Assault Investigation