What term describes the documented handling of evidence from collection to court to preserve integrity?

• A. Chain of custody
• B. Admissibility
• C. Probative value
• D. Jurisdiction

Answer: (A)

Chain of custody is the documented trail that tracks every person who handled the evidence, from collection through storage, transfer, testing, and finally to presentation in court, to preserve its integrity. This continuous record shows who accessed the evidence, when, where it was kept, and what was done to it, so its authenticity can be trusted in legal proceedings. If this chain isn’t intact, the evidence can be questioned or deemed inadmissible, which is why maintaining it is essential. Admissibility concerns whether evidence can be used in court, but chain of custody specifically addresses the handling history that supports that admissibility. Probative value refers to how useful the evidence is for proving a fact, and jurisdiction is about the authority of a court to hear a case.