What is the primary concern of maintaining a chain of custody?

Maintaining a chain of custody is essential in criminal investigations and legal proceedings to ensure that evidence is handled correctly from the time it is collected until it is presented in court. The primary concern is to keep evidence intact and unaltered. This involves documenting every person who handles the evidence, as well as any transfers or changes in its condition. A well-maintained chain of custody helps to prevent contamination, tampering, or the introduction of unreliable evidence, which can jeopardize the integrity of a case.

In legal contexts, if the chain of custody is broken or not properly documented, it can lead to challenges regarding the admissibility of the evidence in court. The primary focus is on preserving the integrity of the evidence to uphold justice and ensure a fair trial process. This is crucial for the prosecution to demonstrate that the evidence presented is credible and has not been compromised.