CHAIN OF CUSTODY AND THE VALIDITY OF CRIMINAL EVIDENCE: IMPACTS OF THE ANTI-CRIME PACKAGE ON THE BRAZILIAN CRIMINAL PROCEDURE SYSTEM
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.66104/1kww8t63Keywords:
Chain of Custody; Criminal evidence; Due process of law; Evidentiary reliability; Brazilian criminal procedure.Abstract
This article examines the central role of the chain of custody of evidence in Brazilian criminal procedure following the introduction of Articles 158-A to 158-F into the Code of Criminal Procedure by Law No. 13,964/2019 (Anti-Crime Package). It is based on the premise that the proper management of material traces constitutes an essential condition for the reliability of evidentiary activity. In this context, the study analyzes the function of the chain of custody in preserving the integrity, authenticity, and traceability of evidence, as well as its contribution to the enforcement of constitutional guarantees such as adversarial proceedings and full defense. A qualitative methodology is adopted, using a deductive approach grounded in specialized bibliographic review and analysis of judicial precedents. The findings indicate that the chain of custody has been consolidated as an essential technical-legal instrument for the validation of criminal evidence, mitigating risks of contamination, loss, or improper handling. However, challenges remain regarding its effective implementation, particularly structural and operational limitations, as well as jurisprudential divergences concerning the procedural consequences of its breach. It is concluded that regulatory improvement and procedural standardization are necessary to ensure greater legal certainty and effectiveness in the criminal evidentiary system.
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