Fort Lauderdale Divorce Attorney
Call For a Free Consultation 954-467-6656 Hablamos Español

What Happens If The Chain Of Custody Is Broken?

BrokenChain

In a criminal case, evidence may include, among many other things, photographs, DNA samples, bodily fluids, such as blood, documents, and personal property. If law enforcement officers make a mistake when handling evidence, a “chain of custody error” is said to have occurred. The chain of custody is the documentation and proper care of the evidence. The chain of custody is the documentation of, among many other things, parties who collected, handled, or analyzed a piece of evidence during an investigation. A record of the chain of evidence must be maintained and established in court whenever evidence is being presented. Otherwise, the evidence may be deemed inadmissible in court.

What Happens if the Chain of Custody Is Broken?

So, what happens if the chain of custody is broken? If the chain of custody is broken, evidence may be suppressed or deemed inadmissible. For example, suppose you got involved in a car accident and then had your blood drawn so the police could see if you were drunk driving. In such a case, if the blood evidence was mislabeled or mixed up with other blood samples in the lab, it may be suppressed.

Evidence can also be thrown out of court if it;

  • fell into the wrong hands during the course of the investigation.
  • was improperly stored during the course of the investigation.
  • is improperly documented.

It is crucial to note that the police also break the chain of custody if they lose evidence.

When evidence is deemed “inadmissible” or “suppressed”, it means that it cannot be used against a defendant by being presented to a jury, or even considered by the judge. If the judge refuses to admit evidence because of a chain of a custody error, the prosecutor might be left with little or no solid evidence to use against you. If it is a crucial piece of evidence, your criminal case might be dismissed, or you could end up with reduced charges. An experienced criminal attorney can identify these weak points in the prosecution’s case, and ensure that you get the best possible outcome.

Challenging the Chain of Custody

Generally speaking, in a criminal case, judges and juries use evidence to decide whether an individual is guilty or innocent. Therefore, it would be unfair to let a judge or jury use evidence that has, for instance, been contaminated to determine whether a person committed a crime or not. However, it is up to the defense to challenge the chain of custody. If you can show that the chain of custody was broken, then the Court can deem the evidence in question inadmissible. An attorney can help you show that the chain of custody was broken.

Indeed, it can be hard to prove a total breakdown of the chain of custody. However, it is not difficult to cast doubt upon whether or not the chain of custody was broken or improperly maintained. Remember, the prosecutor is required to prove your guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. If they cannot do that, then you cannot be convicted.

Contact a Fort Lauderdale Criminal Attorney

Navigating the complex area of chain of custody requires the expertise of a criminal defense lawyer. A Fort Lauderdale criminal attorney at Joyce A. Julian, P.A., can help you dispute the credibility of the evidence that the prosecutor is trying to use against you. Contact 954-467-6656 today to schedule a consultation.

Source:

csrc.nist.gov/glossary/term/chain_of_custody#:~:text=Definition(s)%3A,the%20purpose%20for%20the%20transfer

MileMark Media - Practice Growth Solutions

© 2016 - 2024 Joyce A. Julian, Attorney at Law. All rights reserved.
This law firm website is managed by MileMark Media.

Contact Form Tab