Question

_________________ refers to establishing how and when a piece of evidence was received; how it was maintained or stored while in each person's possession; what changes, if any, it underwent in that person's custody; and how it left that person's custody.

a. Authentication
b. Forensic examination
c. Chain of custody
d. None of the above

Answer 1

The correct answer is c. Chain of custody, a critical process in legal proceedings for maintaining the integrity of evidence from collection to court presentation.

Step-by-step explanation:

The term being described refers to a process in the legal and forensic context that is critical for maintaining the integrity of evidence from the time it is collected until it is presented in court. The correct answer to the question is c. Chain of custody. This refers to documenting the handling of evidence, including its collection, storage, and any changes it may have undergone, to ensure its admissibility in legal proceedings. Establishing a chain of custody is necessary to show that the evidence has been maintained in an unaltered state, devoid of tampering or contamination.