As a security officer, you are liable to understand and take necessary steps to preserve the incident scene. In order to preserve the incident scene, you may have to protect the area of incidence and collect evidences. You must properly investigate the property and document all evidences for further investigation. You are accountable for the evidences and therefore, you must have a documented trail of evidence collected from the incident scene.

Fixed All immoble articles or material which can not be easily moved due to its shape and size like wall, floor, telephone pole, etc.

Fragile All articles which may deteriorate and lose evidentiary value if not preserved like blood, finger and foots prints.

Mobile All mobile items or articles which can be transported that is related to a case.

Physical All physical material relent to a criminal act. It is any tangible article or material item that is related to a case.

What is Evidence? Evidence is that which tends to prove or disprove any matter in question or to influence the belief respecting it. Evidence may be physical or testimonial.

For the purposes of this training unit, only physical evidence will be considered.

What is Evidence Depository? A secure storage room or container specifically used for the storage of physical evidence or property held for safekeeping.

What is Property? Everything that is not considered physical evidence related to a criminal offense, but is placed in an authorized evidence depository for safekeeping due to its nature (e.g., firearm turned in by a patient).

What is Chain of Custody? The Chain of Custody is the documented trail of accountability and control for items of evidence or property taken into custody by a security officer

The Chain of Custody is of paramount importance to any investigation. It is the unbroken listing of persons having access to an item of evidence from the time it is found at the crime scene until the time it appears in court. Every link in this chain is documented, from discovery at the crime scene, evidence gathering, storage, lab analysis, return to storage, and transfer to court. Every link is documented by date, time, handling individual, and what was done with the evidence by that individual. The first officer in this link is responsible for the proper collection and documentation. His efforts, or his impropriety, whether innocent or intentional, may have serious consequences on the investigation.

If the Chain of Custody is broken, or if the evidence cannot be accounted for in even one step of its journey from crime scene to courtroom, it could be rendered inadmissible.