OSH Security Practice Test

Which of the following is a definition of continuity of evidence?

1. Chain of custody controlled by a police service.

2. Unbroken chain of custody and control which protects integrity of an object.

3. Chain of custody unbroken and controlled by only one individual.

4. Evidence presented in proper sequence.

The correct answer is: Unbroken chain of custody and control which protects integrity of an object.

Continuity of evidence refers to the concept that ensures that evidence remains intact and unaltered from the time it is collected until it is presented in court. This is achieved through maintaining an unbroken chain of custody, which involves a documented history of who collected the evidence, how it was stored, and who had access to it throughout the process. The selected response captures this essence by emphasizing that an unbroken chain of custody and control is crucial for protecting the integrity of the object in question. This means that every individual who handles the evidence must follow strict procedures to avoid tampering or contamination, thereby ensuring that the evidence presented is credible and can be trusted in legal contexts. Other choices provide useful details but lack completeness on what encompasses continuity of evidence. For example, while one choice notes the involvement of a police service, it does not address the necessity of preserving the integrity of the object itself. Another choice mentions control by a single individual, which might imply restricted access, but does not reflect the broader principle of maintaining an ongoing documentary trail. Lastly, referring to evidence being presented in proper sequence does not directly capture the comprehensive nature of continuity of evidence, since sequence alone doesn't guarantee the integrity or custody of that evidence.