Evidence Collection & Chain of Custody Flashcards
7 cards from real CVA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Evidence Collection & Chain of Custody flashcards as text
In evidence collection, 'spoliation' refers to:
Answer: The deliberate destruction or alteration of evidence
Spoliation is the intentional or negligent destruction, concealment, or alteration of evidence, which can have serious legal consequences and undermine a verification case.
A transfer log in chain of custody documentation should record:
Answer: Each person who handled the evidence, with dates and reasons for transfer
A transfer log must capture every custodian of the evidence, including when and why custody changed hands, to demonstrate an unbroken chain.
When is it appropriate for a CVA to collect a copy of evidence rather than the original document?
Answer: When taking the original would deprive the subject of their own records and a certified copy is legally sufficient
Certified or authenticated copies are acceptable when taking the original would deprive the owner of their records and when the copy is legally recognized as an equivalent.
Which of the following types of evidence is considered 'real' or 'physical' evidence in a verification context?
Answer: A signed contract or physical document collected at a site
Real or physical evidence consists of tangible items — such as signed documents or physical objects — collected directly at the scene of verification.
Why should a CVA avoid collecting more evidence than is strictly necessary for the verification assignment?
Answer: To comply with privacy laws and minimize risk of inadvertently exposing irrelevant personal information
Collecting only necessary evidence is a privacy principle that protects individuals from having irrelevant personal data gathered, consistent with legal and ethical standards.
What does 'authentication' of evidence mean in a verification assignment?
Answer: Confirming that the evidence is what it purports to be
Authentication means establishing that a piece of evidence is genuine — that a document is what it claims to be, signed by who it claims, and unaltered.
A CVA collects surveillance footage from a business. The MOST important immediate step after receipt is to:
Answer: Create a verified copy and log the original footage in the chain of custody record
Creating a verified copy and logging the original in the chain of custody preserves evidence integrity and ensures the original remains unaltered for potential use in proceedings.