Evidence Handling & Chain of Custody Flashcards

What is the primary purpose of maintaining chain of custody for evidence?

Answer: To preserve the integrity and admissibility of evidence in court

Chain of custody ensures evidence integrity and admissibility by creating an unbroken documentary record of every person who handled the evidence.

When should an officer begin documenting chain of custody?

Answer: At the moment the evidence is first collected or seized

Chain of custody documentation must begin at the exact moment evidence is first identified and collected to account for its condition and location from the start.

What type of evidence requires the most careful handling due to contamination risk?

Answer: Biological and DNA evidence

Biological and DNA evidence is highly susceptible to contamination, degradation, and cross-contamination, which can permanently destroy its evidentiary value.

What information must be recorded when transferring evidence between officers?

Answer: The names of both parties, date, time, and reason for the transfer

A complete chain of custody transfer requires identification of both the transferring and receiving officers, along with the date, time, and stated reason for the transfer.

What is the proper way to package wet biological evidence for long-term storage?

Answer: Allow it to air dry, then package in paper or breathable material

Wet biological evidence must be air-dried before packaging in paper because sealing it in plastic promotes mold and bacterial growth that destroys DNA.

Under Michigan law, who is responsible for ensuring evidence retention periods are met?

Answer: The evidence custodian under the direction of agency leadership

The agency's evidence custodian, under the supervision of department leadership, is responsible for tracking and ensuring compliance with all evidence retention requirements.

What action should an officer take if they discover that stored evidence has been compromised or tampered with?

Answer: Immediately notify the prosecutor and thoroughly document the compromise

Compromised evidence must be immediately reported to the prosecutor and documented in full detail to maintain legal transparency and uphold the defendant's due process rights.

What is the primary role of an evidence custodian in a Michigan law enforcement agency?

Answer: To maintain secure storage, accurate records, and proper disposition of all agency evidence

The evidence custodian is solely responsible for the secure storage, accurate record-keeping, and legally compliant final disposition of all evidence held by the agency.

Under what limited circumstance may evidence be destroyed before a criminal case is fully adjudicated?

Answer: When the evidence is perishable and a court order or documented prosecutor approval has been obtained

Perishable evidence may be destroyed pre-adjudication only with court authorization or documented prosecutor approval, along with thorough photographic documentation and weight records.

What special protocols apply to evidence collected in cases involving juvenile offenders in Michigan?

Answer: Evidence must be sealed and records restricted per Michigan's juvenile confidentiality statutes

Michigan's juvenile justice laws impose strict confidentiality requirements on evidence and records from juvenile proceedings, limiting access beyond what applies to adult cases.

What is 'presumptive testing' in the context of drug evidence collected in the field?

Answer: A field test indicating the probable presence of a substance that still requires laboratory confirmation

Presumptive field tests indicate the probable presence of a controlled substance to support probable cause but are not definitive; confirmatory laboratory analysis is required for prosecution.

How should an officer handle evidence that is also classified as contraband, such as an illegally possessed firearm?

Answer: Process it through standard evidence procedures, noting its contraband status for proper post-case disposition

All contraband, including illegal firearms, must be processed through standard evidence procedures with its contraband designation noted so that proper forfeiture or destruction can occur after case resolution.

What is the significance of the U.S. Supreme Court's Brady v. Maryland decision for evidence handling by Michigan law enforcement?

Answer: Brady requires law enforcement to disclose all exculpatory evidence to the prosecution for mandatory sharing with the defense

Under Brady v. Maryland, prosecutors and by extension law enforcement must identify and disclose any evidence favorable to the defense, making thorough documentation essential.

What is the correct procedure when an officer needs to add newly discovered items to an already-submitted evidence package?

Answer: Create a new evidence submission with its own documentation, cross-referencing the original package number

New items must be submitted as a separate evidence package with their own documentation and cross-referenced to the original case to maintain a clear and unbroken chain of custody.