What does the chain of custody ensure in legal proceedings?

The chain of custody is a critical process in legal proceedings that ensures the validity and integrity of evidence. It refers to the documented and unbroken transfer of evidence from the time it is collected until it is presented in court. Maintaining a proper chain of custody demonstrates that the evidence has not been altered, tampered with, or contaminated, which is vital for establishing its reliability and admissibility in a legal context.

For evidence to be accepted by the court, it must be proven to be the same as when it was collected, and a clear chain of custody allows law enforcement, forensic experts, and legal representatives to track the evidence through each stage it undergoes. This includes documenting who collected the evidence, how it was stored, and who handled it throughout the process—ensuring that it remains trustworthy and can support or refute claims in a legal case. Thus, the integrity and validity of the evidence are upheld through meticulous management of the chain of custody.