Definition and Importance:
Define the term “Chain of Custody” in your own words.
Explain why the Chain of Custody is important in legal proceedings.
Discuss the potential consequences of a broken Chain of Custody.
Real-Life Examples:
Research and provide two real-life examples of cases where the Chain of Custody was a significant factor. Explain the role it played in each case
Procedure
Draw a flow diagram illustrating a typical Chain of Custody for a piece of physical evidence, from the crime scene to the courtroom. Include each step and explain its purpose.
Reflection:
Reflect on what you have learned about the Chain of Custody. Why do you think it is important for those in law enforcement and legal professions to understand and correctly apply this concept?
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Understanding the Chain of Custody in Legal Proceedings
Definition and Importance:
Chain of Custody refers to a documented trail that tracks the possession, handling, and location of physical evidence from the time it is collected at a crime scene to its presentation in court. It ensures the integrity and admissibility of evidence by establishing a clear record of who had control of the evidence at any given time.
The Chain of Custody is crucial in legal proceedings as it serves to maintain the credibility and reliability of evidence. By documenting every transfer of custody, it provides assurance that the evidence has not been tampered with, altered, or contaminated. This procedural safeguard is essential for upholding the principles of fairness, transparency, and due process in the criminal justice system.
Potential Consequences of a Broken Chain of Custody:
A broken Chain of Custody can have severe repercussions on a case’s outcome. If the integrity of the evidence is compromised due to gaps or inconsistencies in the Chain of Custody, it can lead to challenges regarding the reliability and authenticity of the evidence. This can result in the exclusion of crucial evidence from trial or undermine its probative value, potentially jeopardizing the prosecution’s case or impeding the defense’s ability to challenge the evidence effectively.
Real-Life Examples:
O.J. Simpson Murder Trial: In the infamous O.J. Simpson murder trial, the Chain of Custody of blood evidence collected at the crime scene became a contentious issue. The defense raised concerns about potential mishandling and contamination of the blood samples, highlighting discrepancies in the documentation of how the evidence was stored and transferred. These Chain of Custody issues raised doubts about the reliability of the DNA evidence presented in court.
Casey Anthony Trial: In the Casey Anthony trial, the Chain of Custody of forensic evidence, including hair samples and clothing items, played a critical role. Defense attorneys questioned the integrity of the evidence chain, pointing out gaps in documentation and inconsistencies in how the evidence was handled and stored. These challenges to the Chain of Custody raised doubts about the accuracy and reliability of the forensic evidence presented during the trial.
Flow Diagram of a Typical Chain of Custody:
Chain of Custody Flow Diagram
Evidence Collection: The evidence is collected at the crime scene by law enforcement personnel.
Packaging and Labeling: The evidence is properly packaged, sealed, and labeled to prevent contamination or tampering.
Documentation: Detailed documentation is created, including descriptions of the evidence, collection location, date and time, and personnel involved.
Transportation: The evidence is securely transported to a forensic laboratory or storage facility.
Storage: The evidence is stored in a secure location with restricted access to maintain its integrity.
Analysis: Forensic analysis is conducted on the evidence to extract relevant information.
Court Presentation: The evidence is presented in court along with a complete Chain of Custody record.
Reflection:
Understanding and correctly applying the concept of Chain of Custody is essential for those in law enforcement and legal professions to ensure the integrity and admissibility of evidence in legal proceedings. By meticulously documenting every transfer and handling of evidence, professionals can protect against challenges to the credibility and reliability of evidence. A well-maintained Chain of Custody not only upholds the principles of justice but also safeguards against miscarriages of justice that could result from compromised or tainted evidence.
