تسجيل الدخول

تسجيل

Crime Scene Investigation: CHAIN OF CUSTODY

المؤلف:  Max M. Houck، Jay A. Siegel

المصدر:  Fundamentals of Forensic Science

الجزء والصفحة:  p31-33

2026-06-11

46

Crime Scene Investigation: CHAIN OF CUSTODY

Arguably, the single most important piece of paper generated at a crime scene is the chain of custody. This form, an example of which is shown in Figure 2.4, documents the movement of evidence from the time it is obtained to the time it is presented in court. The most compelling evidence in the world can be rendered useless if inaccuracies or gaps exist in a chain of custody. Where was the evidence? Who had control of it? When? Who last had this item? Could it have been tampered with during this gap in time? Having to document each exchange of an item from person, to evidence locker, to person, to agency may seem to be a nuisance, but it is the foundation that permits forensic science results to enter into a courtroom.

FIGURE 2.4 The chain of custody form documents the movement of evidence from the time it is obtained to the time it is presented in court. The most compelling evidence in the world can be rendered useless if inaccuracies or gaps exist in a chain of custody.