Chain of Custody (CoC)

Chain of Custody (CoC) refers to the process of maintaining and documenting the handling of evidence or objects to ensure their integrity and authenticity. It involves tracking the location and condition of items from the moment they are collected to when they are presented in court. Each time the evidence changes hands, it is recorded, creating a detailed log of who had access, when, and how it was stored. This procedure is crucial in legal contexts to prevent tampering or contamination, ensuring that the evidence remains reliable and admissible in court.