What is chain of custody and why is it critical for collected evidence?

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Chain of custody is the documented, continuous record of every person who handles evidence from the moment it’s collected through all stages of testing, transfer, storage, and presentation in court. It includes who touched the item, when it moved, where it went, and under what conditions, typically kept on chain-of-custody forms or seals that are signed or initialed. This record preserves the evidence’s integrity by preventing or revealing tampering, contamination, or substitution, and it shows a court that the evidence is authentic and reliable. Because legal proceedings depend on believable, unbroken evidence, any gap in this chain can cast doubt on admissibility and the fairness of the outcome. In practice, this means properly labeling, sealing, documenting every transfer, keeping the item in secure storage, and ensuring the next handler signs off.