Chain of Custody

Based on your readings from the textbook, provide answers to the following:

Q1) What is the Chain of Custody (CoC) and how is it used during an investigation?

The CoC, or Chain of Custody is a vital process when it comes to documentation. For a specific definition, “...the chain of custody is the procedure, documentation, tracking, and protecting of evidence on its journey from a crime scene to the courtroom”(Dillon). It refers to a specific order in which items that can be used as evidence and handled during the investigation are recorded. This is to show that it was properly handled by people who are taking part in the investigation to be accepted in court. Another way to view the Chain of Custody is like a paper trail, as every examination and analysis must be recorded. Some of the following information needs to be included:

• Details of each sample
• Authorization for the analysis of a sample
• Official addresses and telephone numbers
• Names and signatures of everyone involved when handling samples
• Laboratory’s addresses

Q2). What CoC error could lead to inadmissible (unacceptable) evidence?

Due to CoC documentation being presented by the persecution to prove the items of evidence found at the scene are related to the crime and the person who committed the crime, errors can cause huge problems. The defense team will already be looking for holes in the documents to show that the person is not guilty, so finding details that are missing, not correct, or finding out that items have been mishandled, then the chain is deemed as broken and the defense team can ask to have the evidence annulled, or declared as invalid.

Q3) If you were asked to design your own CoC form, what would you include in it? Submit your form design through CANVAS.

I would try to make a form that would fit most situations when working with a crime scene. This is just one form that can be used multiple times for many items found during an investigation. Here is a list of information that will be included in the form:

• Any unique identifiers
• Name and signature of the sample collectors
• Official address and contact number of anyone included in the investigation
• Name of the recipients included in the investigation
• Any Laboratory's addresses that were used
• Any details of each sample
• Signatures of everyone involved in the chain of possession with date and time
• Authorization for the analysis of the sample how long each person handled it and why they handled it
• Any other information about the sample and how it was transferred and stored
• Any specific locations and times
• Photo of the item to prove that the condition has stayed the name

Chain of Custody Record

Front Page Initial Information: Case number: _________________________________________________________________ Item number: _________________________________________________________________

Professional Information: Received From: _______________________________________________________________ Badge number: ________________________________________________________________ Contact information:___________________________________________________________

Professional Information: Received By:__________________________________________________________________ Badge number:________________________________________________________________ Contact information:___________________________________________________________

Item Information: Storage Type:__________________________________________________________________ Stored location:________________________________________________________________ Location:_____________________________________________________________________ Description:_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Date of collection:________________ Time of collection:________________ am/pm

Other Information: Victim’s full name:_____________________________________________________________ Suspect’s full name:____________________________________________________________

Chain of Custody Record

Back Page Photo of Item:

Works Cited

Badiye, Ashish. “Chain of Custody.” StatPearls [Internet]., U.S. National Library of Medicine, 13 Feb. 2023, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK551677/. Longley, Robert. “What Is Chain of Custody? Definition and Examples.” ThoughtCo, ThoughtCo, 13 July 2022, www.thoughtco.com/chain-of-custody-4589132. Longley, Robert. “What Is Chain of Custody? Definition and Examples.” ThoughtCo, ThoughtCo, 13 July 2022, www.thoughtco.com/chain-of-custody-4589132.