This Blog Post is a PSA (i.e. a "Public Service Announcement" that's designed to provide the folks with important information) but it also both marks the rollout of this latest batch of #HaberPA's VideoFAQs and highlights # 395) "What is Chain of Custody?" and finally it's a shameless plug for #MichaelHaberLaw (#HaberPA's YouTube channel). Disclosures complete let's get to it:
- The PSA: #HaberPA's VideoFAQ # 395 discusses the concept of "Chain of Custody and goes like this:
"Thanks for asking me “What is Chain of Custody?”
The formal definition of "Chain of Custody" is “the chronological documentation or paper trail that records the sequence of custody, control, transfer, analysis, and disposition of materials, including physical or electronic evidence.” More simply stated, “chain of custody” refers to the protocol for maintaining the integrity of evidence. It doesn’t matter if it’s a firearm, blood, fingerprints, DNA... whatever - the idea is to ensure that tampering is prevented, that evidence is not mishandled and to establish a trustworthy process so that the items can ultimately be used in Court.
Chain of custody is absolutely critical to ensuring the authenticity of a given item of evidence. This isn’t so just to prove that something tendered in a courtroom is the very same item that was seized at a crime scene, but it’s also to conclusively show that whatever it is - at all times, places and points after it was discovered and collected - it was in the exclusive custody of a person who’s authorized to handle it, that it was handled for a proper purpose, that there was continuity of possession and that a documented trail exists from the point of discovery and recovery to wherever may have gone prior to the time that it’s brought into a courtroom and tendered for admission as evidence.
In order to establish a proper chain of custody, the evidence’s life-cycle must be diligently documented by each and every person who comes into contact with, much less actually handles the evidence, and this includes not only “the who” of it, but also the purpose for each and every date and time that a given item is touched - be it for collection, storage, transportation, testing... whatever.
Whenever any impounded item is ultimately tendered in a courtroom it's chain of custody is always at issue, and how many people need testify will depend upon the nature of both the evidence and the case, as well as the proclivity of the Judge. Why? Because - to the delight of many a prosecutor and the chagrin of many a defense attorney - Judges are oftentimes lax in their enforcement of chain of custody objections, allowing evidence in even where there’s a provable breach under the guise of what’s referred to as “substantial compliance”."
- The roll-out: Over the course of Memorial Day weekend we published #HaberPA VideoFAQs # 376 - 401, 5 of which deal with The Fourth Amendment per se, another 5 of which deal directly with the subject of warrants, 4 of which deal with searches and Motions to Suppress, 3 of which deal with Miranda Rights, 1 on "Spoliation of Evidence", 1 on "Chain of Custody" and 6 that deal with Arrests (more specifically 2 of which are generic, 2 concerning "Contempt of Cop" and 2 on "Gratuitous Charges").
Again, today we are highlighting # 395) "What is Chain of Custody?", which you can watch at the following URL: https://youtu.be/5M0M3FzKef4
- The shameless plug: #HaberPA's VideoFAQ catalogue is now up to 401 Criminal Defense, Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, DUI, BUI, Domestic Violence, Evidence, Crime Victim Rights and Seal & Expunge "Webisodes" and we are currently scripting 24 new ones concerning such topics as: The 6th Amendment, Public Defenders vs. Private Criminal Defense Counsel, lawyer ethics (insert snarky oxymoron joke here...) and client's rights as are imposed upon all lawyers in The Sunshine State via the Rules Regulating the Florida Bar and updated firearm / gun laws in Florida's new Constitutional Carry era.
If you've not yet done so then I hope that you'll please SUBSCRIBE to #HaberPA's YouTube Channel #MichaelHaberLaw by visiting the following link: www.youtube.com/c/michaelhaberlaw
As of today we have 2,495 subscribers who've contributed to our 698,585 views, but your kind subscription will get us closer to reaching our immediate goal of 3,000 subscribers and 1,000,000 views!
Each #HaberPA VideoFAQ focuses on a specific question, most are 1 - 2 minutes long, but several in this latest batch are closer to the 3 minute mark (another relevant aside alert: "Necessity" is what we call an "affirmative defense", or a defense which negates the "intent" or Mens Rea" element of an otherwise criminal act as the actor's illegal conduct only occurred under threat, usually threat of harm), and while we may not always be successful in our endeavor we do consistently strive to make each VideoFAQ short, pointed, creative, entertaining and, most importantly, informative.
While I admittedly conjure a healthy percentage of the "questions" that form our VideoFAQs a substantial portion of them are in fact inspired by real world questions from others (e.g. clients, potential clients, random folks on social media / the internet, friends, family, colleagues, etcetera). Should you have a legal questions that you'd like #HaberPA to address then you're welcome - encouraged even - to SUBMIT it / them to me, be it by email (Sharky910@aol.com), calling or texting my cell phone (305-798-2220), messaging me on X /Twitter (@Sharky910), MeWe (also @Sharky910), on YouTube (via MichaelHaberLaw) or by PM'ing me right here on FB and, assuming that your proposed topic is both appropriate and fits within our wheelhouse then we'll be happy to provide you with a custom tailored video answer to your relevant question.
With all that said I hope that you enjoy # 395, that if you've not yet done so then that you become a #MichaelHaberLaw subscriber and in any event that you know that no attorney-client relationship with either #HaberPA or Michael A. Haber, Esq. exists as a result of watching any of our VideoFAQs. Any and all information which is both contained in and may be construed from our VideoFAQ is meant to be generic in nature, should only be considered as academic and is not intended to be construed as legal advise to any specific individual for any specific case. Should you wish to seek actual legal advise then please feel free to contact #HaberPA directly.
Should you, a friend, a loved one or even someone that you {don't particularly like but happen to} know be in a jam with the criminal justice system then you can rest assured that either retaining or recommending #HaberPA will not only reflect well on you but will provide the client with unwavering, relentless and honest advocacy.
Established in 1991 and with no history whatsoever of any form of professional discipline, #HaberPA is readily available to have open, honest dialogue with potential clients and to quote and honor reasonable fees after identifying a realistic litigation objective. We're proud of our unblemished and time proven record of both having our client's "6:00", 24-7-365, 360° and of providing boutique, creative, effective, unwavering and zealous #CriminalDefense, #CriminalLaw, #CriminalProcedure, #ConstitutionalLaw, #Evidence, #DUI, #BUI, #DomesticViolence, #Probation, #Crime #VictimRights and #Seal & #Expunge representation to it's clientele, primarily in South Florida, on matters ranging from DUI to #DrugTrafficking and from #Misdemeanors to #Murder.
At #HaberPA "it's all about #ReasonableDoubt"!
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https://www.youtube.com/c/michaelhaberlaw / @Sharky910 /
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