Knowra Chain of custody Chain of custody A documented history of evidence handling that records each transfer, storage location, and responsible person. It helps establish that evidence remained identifiable and was not altered.
Evidence packaging : The containment and sealing of collected material to protect it from loss, contamination, or alteration. Sealed, suitable packaging helps preserve evidence between recorded custody events.
Forensic science : The application of scientific methods to questions arising in law and criminal investigations. Forensic results depend on evidence whose handling can be accounted for.
Evidence integrity : The condition of evidence remaining complete, authentic, and unaltered from collection through examination. A consistent custody history supports confidence that the item presented is the item collected.
Chain of title : A sequence of documents establishing successive ownership or legal interests in property. It tracks ownership, whereas chain of custody tracks evidence handling.
Evidence log : A record of evidence identifiers, handling events, locations, dates, and responsible personnel. It captures the custody history that must remain traceable.
Digital forensics : The preservation, examination, and interpretation of digital data for investigative or legal purposes. Digital evidence requires records of device access, copying, and secure storage.
Authentication (law) : The process of establishing that evidence is what its proponent claims it to be. Custody records can help authenticate physical evidence and document its provenance.
Provenance : The documented origin and history of an object, data, or work. Chain of custody is a focused form of provenance concerned with handling and control.
Tamper-evident packaging : Packaging designed to show visible signs if it has been opened or altered. Its seals provide a check on whether evidence was accessed between documented transfers.
Crime scene investigation : The systematic documentation and collection of material from a location under investigation. Custody documentation begins when investigators collect and identify evidence.
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