SOP · FIELD OPERATIONS
Evidence Chain-of-Custody & Handling
ActiveField OperationsRev D
Purpose
To define the controlled collection, sealing, transport, and custody of every item THE RESET recovers — counterfeit output, seized dark patterns, trafficking ledgers, and biological samples — so that each exhibit is admissible, reproducible, and unimpeachable before a prosecutor, regulator, or journalist. An unbroken custody chain is the difference between an exposure that holds and one an adversary tears apart.
Scope
All evidence collection, handling, and custody across field and facility operations.
In scope:
- Collection into tamper-evident containers
- Custody-chain signing at every transfer
- Sealing, labeling, and evidence-reference assignment
- Lodging with the evidence locker
Out of scope:
- Public disclosure of evidence, which follows SOP Whistleblower & Exposure Protocol
- Laboratory sampling protocols, which follow SOP Dark pattern/Dark-pattern Sampling Chain
Definitions
Custody Chain
The unbroken, signed record of every person who held an exhibit from collection to the sealed evidence locker.
Aliquot
A divided sealed portion of a single sample, allowing an independent lab to re-test identical material.
Evidence Reference
The QH-EVD-YYYY-NNN identifier under which a sealed exhibit is lodged with Evidence & Custody.
Tamper-Evident Seal
A single-use seal whose breach is irreversibly visible; a broken seal voids the exhibit.
Responsibilities
Evidence & Custody Officer (Owner)
Owns the procedure; assigns evidence references; signs final disposition of each exhibit.
Collecting Operative
Collects into the correct container, seals, and maintains the custody chain to the locker.
THE RESET Legal Counsel
Confirms the admissibility standard and approves any onward disclosure.
GOVERNOR
Time-stamps and geotags exhibit imagery, cross-checks custody logs, and flags any chain gap for review.
Procedure
Collection
- Collect each item into the correct tamper-evident container; never decant between containers.
- Photograph each exhibit in place with time, position, and a witness scale; GOVERNOR confirms the geotag.
- Split any divisible sample into at least two sealed aliquots for independent re-test.
Sealing & Reference
- Apply a single-use tamper-evident seal and record the seal number on the custody form.
- Reserve an QH-EVD reference with Evidence & Custody and label the exhibit accordingly.
- Discard and re-collect rather than lodge any item with a broken seal or unclear provenance.
Custody & Lodging
- Sign the custody chain at every transfer; an unsigned transfer voids the exhibit.
- Maintain any required chill or preservation through transport and log conditions.
- Lodge the sealed exhibit and full chain with the evidence locker under the QH-EVD reference.
- Do not disclose or summarize any exhibit; disclosure follows the Exposure Protocol only.
PPE & Controls
Nitrile gloves changed between exhibits to prevent cross-contaminationRespirator when handling dark pattern containersTamper-evident container kit and seal setChilled transport with temperature logger
Records Generated
- QH-EVD-YYYY-NNN sealed exhibit record (retained to case close + 7 years)
- Signed custody-chain form set
- In-situ imagery with time/geotag metadata
- Seal-number and transport-condition log
References
- SOP: Dark pattern/Dark-pattern Sampling Chain
- SOP: Captured-Artifact Handling
- SOP: Whistleblower & Exposure Protocol
- THE RESET Evidence Admissibility Standard
Revision History
| Rev | Date | Note |
|---|---|---|
| A | 2089-03-11 | Initial issue; custody-chain form and evidence references established. |
| B | 2089-11-22 | Added mandatory split aliquots and seal-number logging. |
| C | 2090-08-15 | Added chilled-transport logging for biological exhibits. |
| D | 2091-02-10 | GOVERNOR time/geotag integration; Legal Counsel approval of admissibility standard. |