From Crime Scene to Courtroom: The Legal Journey of Forensic Evidence through Chain of Custody

The role of forensic evidence in the criminal justice system is vital, substantially affecting investigations and adjudicatory processes. Critical to its admissibility and acceptance is the evidence’s chain of custody as it helps in establishing the path from crime scene to court house, making sure it was untouched, properly managed and accurately identified. Interruptions in the chain due to handling, misidentification, theft or tampering can result in either the conviction of an innocent person or acquittal of the guilty. This article seeks to critically discuss the protocols, processes, methods and ethical considerations particularly in relation to safe-guarding the integrity of evidence through cases where evidence was rejected by courts because of weak documentation as well as poor forensic management. It also looks at forensic-processing backlogs, adjudication gaps and lack of infrastructure in what has broken up criminal trials in India and where do the United States of America (US), United Kingdom (UK) and Germany stand in forensic analysis. In addition, evidence related to other emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), block chain technology, digital labelling, automated tracking systems and automated forensic databases are reviewed for their potential to enhance transparency, integrity and efficiencies of evidence management. Finally, the article concludes that better crime scene practices as well as an application of technology use with proper legal boundaries and a good chain of custody are necessary to secure the right to fair trial, protect against wrongful convictions, and promote public faith in our legal system.