Title: Chain of Custody and Why It Is Important in a Criminal Case — #LadyJustice Speaks
Headings: Chain of Custody and Why It Is Important in a Criminal Case
Chain of Custody and Why It Is Important in a Criminal Case
Why Is Chain of Custody Important in a Criminal Case?
What Is Included in an Evidence Log?
Challenging Chain of Custody in a Criminal Case
Just Criminal Law Protects Your One Shot at Justice

Content: Because criminal prosecutions rely on evidence gathered by police officers, it is typically prosecutors who must establish chain of custody. Proving chain of custody can be difficult. If law enforcement does not do it correctly, chain of custody can be successfully challenged in a criminal case. Challenging chain of custody can be a successful defense strategy to eliminate evidence that might be used to convict a defendant. A defense lawyer who successfully challenges the chain of custody can ask to have evidence declared inadmissible. If the judge finds that certain evidence is not admissible, the prosecutor might not have enough evidence to continue with the case. Why Is Chain of Custody Important in a Criminal Case? When deciding whether a defendant is guilty, judges and juries evaluate cases based on the evidence presented in court. They are not permitted to conduct their own investigations. Allowing judges or juries to base their decisions on evidence that is tainted, unreliable, or has been tampered with would undermine the integrity of the judicial system.