Why should evidence collectors avoid altering evidence?

Avoiding alteration of evidence is crucial for upholding legal standards and protocols. When evidence is collected in a criminal investigation, it must be preserved in its original state to ensure its integrity and reliability. Altering evidence can lead to questions about its validity, potentially compromising the case and undermining the legal process. The integrity of evidence is essential for ensuring that it can be presented in court as accurate and trustworthy.

Maintaining original evidence helps to provide a clear chain of custody, which documents who collected, handled, and analyzed the evidence. This documentation is vital for defending the admissibility of evidence in court. If evidence has been altered in any way, it may not be considered reliable, which can have serious implications for the prosecution and defense, possibly leading to wrongful convictions or acquittals based on insufficient or tainted evidence.