What is the documented, tamper-proof record that tracks evidence handling from collection to court to prove integrity and authenticity?

• A. Audit Log
• B. Chain of Custody
• C. Digital Signature
• D. Hash Chain

Answer: (B)

Chain of custody is the documented, tamper-evident record that tracks every transfer, handling, and storage of evidence from collection through to court. It records who collected the evidence, who handled it, where it was stored, and the dates and conditions of each handoff, often with seals, signatures, and unique identifiers. This continuous log creates a verifiable history showing that the evidence has remained in proper control and unchanged, which is essential for maintaining integrity and admissibility in court.

Other options don’t fit as well because an audit log focuses on events within a system rather than physical evidence handling; a digital signature verifies the authenticity of a digital document but not the custody of physical items; and a hash chain helps detect changes to data but does not itself document the chain of custody for evidence across locations and people.