Blockchain-Based Chain of Custody for Digital Evidence with Hyperledger Fabric

The increasing presence of digital evidence in legal, criminal, and civil cases requires adaptations to traditional chain-of-custody processes to ensure the integrity of this evidence. This work proposes the use of blockchain technology, specifically through Hyperledger Fabric, to strengthen the chain of custody for digital evidence. The developed solution employs smart contracts to immutably record each stage of evidence handling, from collection to transfer of custody, ensuring data authenticity, integrity, and traceability. Our implementation demonstrates that blockchain technology can significantly reduce the risk of evidence tampering, improve process efficiency, and facilitate audits, thereby contributing to greater reliability in the presentation of evidence during judicial proceedings.