Which of the following best describes what happens if chain of custody is broken?
Which of the following best describes what happens if chain of custody is broken?
If the chain of custody is broken, vital evidence could be deemed inadmissible in court. The chain of custody ensures that evidence has been collected, maintained, and preserved properly from the crime scene to the courtroom. If this chain is broken, the integrity and reliability of the evidence can be questioned, leading to its exclusion from legal proceedings. Maintaining an unbroken chain of custody is essential for the evidence to be considered credible and admissible in court.
If the chain of custody is broken, it primarily impacts the admissibility of the evidence in court. The evidence could be deemed inadmissible because the continuity and integrity of its handling cannot be assured. This could significantly affect the outcome of a legal case, as vital evidence may be excluded from consideration. Therefore, maintaining an unbroken chain of custody is crucial for ensuring that evidence can be reliably used in legal proceedings.
B - Vital evidence could be deemed inadmissible: The whole point of chain of custody is to make sure your evidence works in court.