Chain of custody

Chain of custody is the documented sequence of possession, transfer, storage and examination of evidence. It is especially important for physical objects, forensic samples, digital data and seized materials. In Swiss proceedings, a reliable chain supports authenticity and integrity, while gaps may reduce probative value or trigger challenges to admissibility. Good practice records who collected the item, when and where, how it was sealed, stored, copied or analysed, and who accessed it. Digital evidence also requires attention to metadata, hash values and reproducible extraction methods.