What describes the documented history of everyone who possessed evidence?

• A. Chain of custody
• B. Forensic chain
• C. Evidence log
• D. Property transfer log

Answer: (A)

The chain of custody is the documented history of every person who has possessed the evidence, from the moment it is collected through all transfers, storage, analysis, and finally presentation or disposal. It records who handled the item, when they did so, where it was kept, and why it changed hands. This continuous, transparent trail is what preserves the evidence’s integrity and helps prove it hasn’t been tampered with or replaced. If a link in this chain is missing or questionable, the evidence can be challenged or excluded in court, even if the item itself is genuine. Other terms like an evidence log or property transfer log describe records related to handling or transfer, but the established term for the complete possession history is the chain of custody.