The Chain of Custody and Its Impact on the Admissibility of Forensic Evidence in the Ecuadorian Criminal Process
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Abstract
The study focused on analyzing the impact of the chain of custody on the admissibility of forensic evidence in Ecuador's criminal proceedings. To this end, 60 lawyers from the Bar Association of Bolívar province participated, selected intentionally for their expertise in criminal law. The research employed a mixed-methods approach, combining the analysis of legal norms and legislation with the application of a structured survey featuring closed-ended questions.
The results revealed that 68.3% of respondents had an in-depth understanding of chain of custody procedures, while 75% agreed that deficiencies in its application could lead to the exclusion of evidence in court. Additionally, 60% perceived that its implementation was generally correct, though 30% noted that its effectiveness depended on the case. Thus, the study demonstrates that inconsistent or deficient chain of custody practices can undermine fundamental rights and compromise the validity of evidence.
Consequently, the study concludes that the chain of custody is a crucial tool to ensure due process, evidence integrity, and trust in the criminal justice system. Overcoming existing challenges-such as lack of training, limited resources, and interagency coordination gaps-is deemed essential.
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