Get General Chain-Of-Custody

Sharp objects should be packaged in rigid, puncture-resistant, and leak-proof containers. Air holes in the outside container are important if Biology/DNA analysis is needed for the item.

Chain of custody: A physical log for a single piece of evidence that documents who had possession of the evidence and when the evidence was in his or her possession. It is a flowchart of the movement of evidence from collection to processing at the crime lab to presentation in court.

An example of chain of custody would be the recovery of a bloody knife at a murder scene: Officer Andrew collects the knife and places it into a container, then gives it to forensics technician Bill. Forensics technician Bill takes the knife to the lab and collects fingerprints and other evidence from the knife.

For example, if a prosecutor in a murder case wanted to introduce a knife found at the crime scene, they'd have to establish a chain of custody to prove that it was in fact the knife found at the scene and not some other knife.

A process that tracks the movement of evidence through its collection, safeguarding, and analysis lifecycle by documenting each person who handled the evidence, the date/time it was collected or transferred, and the purpose for the transfer.

The term “Chain of Custody” form is commonly referred in acronym usage as a CCF or CoC, and references a document or paper trail showing the seizure, custody, control, transfer, analysis, and disposition of physical and electronic evidence of a human specimen test.

Definition(s): A process that tracks the movement of evidence through its collection, safeguarding, and analysis lifecycle by documenting each person who handled the evidence, the date/time it was collected or transferred, and the purpose for the transfer.

Proof beyond a reasonable doubt, therefore, must be proof of such a convincing character that a reasonable person would not hesitate to rely and act upon it. A person can never be convicted on mere suspicion or conjecture. The prosecution always has the burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.