What is the primary purpose of maintaining a documented chain of custody for evidence?

The primary purpose of maintaining a documented chain of custody for evidence is to ensure the integrity and validity of that evidence in legal proceedings. A clear and documented chain of custody provides a log that tracks who collected, handled, transported, and stored the evidence. This meticulous documentation is crucial because it helps establish that the evidence has not been tampered with or altered in any way, which is essential for it to be admissible in court.

In legal contexts, the reliability of evidence is often scrutinized, and any gaps in the chain of custody may lead to challenges about its authenticity. If the chain of custody is robust, it reinforces the credibility of the evidence and upholds the judicial process by ensuring that it may be used reliably to establish facts in a case.