Exhibit Number
Definition
The unique reference code assigned to each recovered item at the moment of collection. It appears on the label, in the scene notes, in the exhibit log, and in every subsequent document that refers to the item, creating the continuity required for chain-of-custody purposes.
- Assigned
- At the moment of collection
- Appears in
- Label, scene notes, exhibit log, all subsequent documents
- Purpose
- Continuity for chain-of-custody purposes
- Uniqueness
- Unique to each recovered item
Common questions
What happens if an exhibit number is reused or duplicated by mistake?+
It breaks the continuity the numbering system is meant to guarantee, since two items sharing a number can no longer be distinguished in the exhibit log or later testimony, which can be challenged as a chain-of-custody defect.
Does an exhibit number replace the need for a written description of the item?+
No. The number is a reference code, not a substitute for the description of the item, its location, and the circumstances of recovery, all of which must still be recorded in the scene notes and exhibit log.
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