If the chain of custody of evidence is compromised, what is the correct course of action?

• A. Document breach, quarantine and re-sealing evidence if necessary, preserve remaining evidence; disclose to court and authorities; may affect admissibility.
• B. Notify defense counsel of the breach and continue as usual.
• C. Seal the evidence and destroy all copies to prevent misuse.
• D. Request a new seizure of the items in question.

Answer: (A)

When the chain of custody is compromised, the priority is to preserve the integrity of the evidence as much as possible by addressing the breach openly. Document the breach in detail (who, when, how), quarantine or re-seal the affected item if needed, and preserve the remaining evidence in its current state. Promptly disclose the breach to the court and relevant authorities so they can determine admissibility and how the evidence should be weighed. This approach maintains transparency and gives the court the information it needs to assess reliability. It’s not appropriate to continue as if nothing happened, destroy all copies, or simply pursue a new seizure without first handling the breach and notifying the court.