Which concept ensures evidence integrity through documented handling from collection to court?

• A. Traffic Stop Briefing.
• B. Chain of Custody.
• C. Inventory Search.
• D. Use-of-Force Continuum.

Answer: (B)

Chain of custody is the process that keeps evidence trustworthy by documenting every transfer and handling from the moment it is collected to when it is presented in court. Each step—collection, packaging, labeling, storage, and movement—has a record of who handled it, when, where, and how, creating an unbroken trail. This continuous log helps prevent tampering or contamination and supports the evidence’s authenticity, making it admissible in court. If the chain is broken or unclear, the evidence can be challenged and potentially excluded. The other concepts involve different duties—documenting a stop, listing items found during a vehicle search, or outlining how force is used—none of which ensure the long, traceable custody of evidence from collection to court.