* Dayani Herrera * Week 2 Assignment
The Chain of Custody Process
Limiting Access to the Evidence * When a piece of evidence is collected, there are numerous individuals who will have access to it before the case goes to trial. The investigator, evidence technician,
property officer, laboratory technician, prosecutor and defense attorney all may have custody. Each individual in this chain has a responsibility for the safe-keeping and preservation of the evidence while it is in their possession.


Initial Collection * Before any evidence is removed from the crime scene, there should be an evidence custodian designated as the person in charge of initiating and maintaining all evidence. This person needs to document the crime scene location, as well as his time of arrival. There should also be a crime scene log established, witness list and documentation of identification, arrival and departure times of all law enforcement crime scene personnel.


Record Keeping * The investigator who handles the evidence initially should affix her name, badge number and assignment to the package containing the evidence. When the evidence leaves the officer's possession, a record should be made in her case notes identifying to whom the evidence was given, the date and time, and the reason it was turned over. A signed receipt should be obtained from the person accepting the evidence and another signed receipt should be obtained when the item is returned. When the item is returned, the officer should examine the item and determine if the item is in the same condition as when it was discovered


DNA Evidence * DNA evidence can have a critical role in determining a person's guilt or innocence. Many states now require permanent storage of any DNA collected at crime scenes. The chain of custody documentation for biological matter collected at a crime scene should include initial collection of the evidence, transportation to the laboratory, storage prior to any testing and possession of any unused portion of the DNA.


Documentation
* Many investigations utilize both photographs and video documentation of evidence collection in order to help establish that proper chain-of-custody protocol was followed. This documentation can also help create a permanent record of the evidence. Written notes, audio tapes and sketches also aid in demonstrating the integrity of the chain of custody.

 * 0 Identify Chain of Custody Roles and Requirements Chain of Custody As is the case with all evidence, it's important to maintain a chain of custody for computer evidence. The term "chain of custody" refers to documentation that identifies all changes in the control, handling, possession, ownership, or custody of a piece of evidence. You need to be able to trace the route that evidence takes from the moment you collect it until the time it is presented in court or at a corporate briefing. Don't stop for a cold beer on the way home from the crime scene while the computers are in the trunk of your car! When seizing hardware, you will tag it with an evidence tag that documents the date and time, your name, the case number, where you found the item, other facts relevant to the case, and other information depending on the policies and procedures of your investigation team. After you tag the evidence, you will then bag the evidence and give it to an evidence custodian. Some experts call this process "bagging and tagging." NOTE: An evidence custodian is an individual who is in charge of documenting, transporting, and storing all evidence. The evidence custodian ensures that evidence is safely transported to an evidence locker, a locked repository for items related to pending cases. Most police departments have employees who are designated as evidence custodians. If this is a civil case, you should still appoint one person to be the evidence custodian Legally Seizing Computer Evidence Computer evidence is like any other evidence in many ways. It's no different from a car that gets impounded in a drunk-driving case or a frying pan that gets seized in a domestic dispute case.