Which condition is NOT included in the chain of custody of evidence?

The concept of chain of custody is crucial in law enforcement and legal proceedings, ensuring that evidence remains dependable, reliable, and admissible in court. A condition that is NOT included in the chain of custody would be one that compromises the integrity of the evidence.

Altered evidence deviates from the critical requirements of maintaining the chain of custody. The primary aim of the chain of custody is to preserve evidence in its original state, making it essential to keep the evidence unaltered and well-documented throughout its handling. Evidence must remain unaltered and maintained in its original form to guarantee its validity and reliability during an investigation or court proceedings.

This means that the processes followed in documenting, transferring, and storing evidence must ensure that it is not changed in any way, as any alteration can lead to questions about its authenticity and could ultimately undermine a case. Thus, any condition that indicates evidence has been tampered with or altered directly contradicts the principles of maintaining a proper chain of custody.