What must a proponent do if the evidence is likely to be confused or tampered with?

The requirement to present evidence of chain of custody is critical in maintaining the integrity and reliability of the evidence being introduced in a legal proceeding. The chain of custody refers to the process of maintaining and documenting the handling of evidence from the time it is collected until it is presented in court. This documentation helps to establish that the evidence has not been altered, tampered with, or replaced, which is essential for it to be considered credible by the court.

When evidence is likely to be confused or tampered with, demonstrating the chain of custody serves to reassure the court that the evidence presented is authentic and that its integrity has been preserved throughout the legal process. This generally involves providing a detailed account of who handled the evidence, when, and under what circumstances. By doing so, the proponent establishes the reliability of the evidence in question, making it more likely that the court will accept it.

Other options discussed may involve aspects of evidence presentation or support, but they do not directly address the specific concern of ensuring that the evidence has been preserved without confusion or tampering in the same way that establishing a chain of custody does.