During investigations, what is the purpose of maintaining chain-of-custody?

• A. To expedite court timelines.
• B. To ensure evidence is credible and admissible.
• C. To maintain a documented trail of custody for evidence.
• D. To allow broad public access.

Answer: (C)

Maintaining an unbroken chain of custody means keeping a documented record of every person who handles the evidence, along with when, where, and how it was transferred or stored. This creates a traceable history from the moment the item is collected to its presentation or disposition, showing that the evidence remains in the same condition and hasn’t been tampered with. That clear trail is what makes the evidence credible and admissible in court, because it demonstrates integrity and accountability at every step. It’s about ensuring the evidence can be relied upon, not about speeding court timelines or giving public access.