Up close: How Traka’s intelligent evidence lockers help agencies protect chain of custody

For many agencies, chain of custody isn’t ignored – it’s unresolved.

From the moment evidence leaves a crime scene, it passes through multiple hands, locations and systems. Each transfer creates risk. And as defense attorneys know, chain-of-custody challenges are often the first line of attack long before a case ever reaches trial.

According to Steve Atkinson, director of government business development at Traka, that vulnerability is driving a surge of interest in electronic management solutions designed specifically to protect evidence integrity from intake through forensic review.

Where chain of custody breaks down

The biggest breakdown doesn’t usually happen in the evidence room. It happens during the handoff.

“The real challenge is the transition between the crime scene and the forensic evaluation,” Atkinson said. “That’s where evidence is most often handled, moved and exposed to risk.”

Traditional processes rely heavily on manual documentation and personal accountability. Evidence may be temporarily stored on desks, transported, unsecured or logged inconsistently – creating gaps defense attorneys are quick to exploit.

“Once chain of custody is challenged, prosecutors are immediately on their heels,” Atkinson said. “If there’s any question that evidence could have been tampered with, it weakens the entire case.”