This is the term for evidence of accountability that documents each change of possession from the evidence's discovery until it is presented in court.

This is the term for evidence of accountability that documents each change of possession from the evidence's discovery until it is presented in court.

• A. Chain of custody
• B. Chain of evidence
• C. Evidence trail
• D. Custody record

Answer: (A)

Chain of custody is the term for the documented, unbroken trail of possession and control of evidence from the moment it’s discovered until it’s presented in court. This concept ensures the evidence’s integrity and admissibility by recording every transfer, who handled it, when, where, and how it was stored or safeguarded. A seal or sign-off accompanies each handoff, and any gap can raise questions about tampering or alteration. For example, if a fingerprinted swab moves from the scene to the lab, then to the property room, and finally to the courtroom, each transfer is logged so the court can trust that the same item remains intact and unmodified. While terms like chain of evidence or evidence trail are sometimes used, they’re less precise in formal practice, and custody record describes the record-keeping component rather than the full, recognized process.

Chain of custody is the term for the documented, unbroken trail of possession and control of evidence from the moment it’s discovered until it’s presented in court. This concept ensures the evidence’s integrity and admissibility by recording every transfer, who handled it, when, where, and how it was stored or safeguarded. A seal or sign-off accompanies each handoff, and any gap can raise questions about tampering or alteration. For example, if a fingerprinted swab moves from the scene to the lab, then to the property room, and finally to the courtroom, each transfer is logged so the court can trust that the same item remains intact and unmodified. While terms like chain of evidence or evidence trail are sometimes used, they’re less precise in formal practice, and custody record describes the record-keeping component rather than the full, recognized process.