A strong chain of custody works hand in hand with good audit procedures maintaining the integrity of the property room. 

"Chain of Custody" is proven if an officer is able to testify that he or she took control of the item of physical evidence, identified it, placed it in a locked or protected area, and retrieved the item being offered on the day of the trial. McEntyre v. State, Tex.App.-Hous. (14 Dist.), 717 S.W. 2nd  140147. 

The ability to prosecute any case is based on the validity of the evidence usable in court. 

Evidence is determined to be valid if, to the satisfaction of the court, the chain of custody can prove the evidence is in the same condition and has not been changed or altered since it was seized. 

With a proper chain of custody, you should be able to track a piece of property from the minute it comes in to the minute it leaves the property system. 

Chain of custody can be maintained in several different forms but must meet the court ordered standard of the agencies home jurisdiction. 

The chain of custody should show: 
track when it came in 
who checked it in 
where it was located 
when it was moved 
where it was stored and by whom 
when it was signed out and to whom 
when it came back 
how it was finally disposed of 

Each item must be given a unique item number for tracking. 

Chain of custody can be maintained in one of several different forms provided it meets court criteria. 

All items must be sealed to maintain the chain of custody. Breaking a seal on evidence should only be done in accordance with departmental and court policy and with a witness present.