Who is responsible for maintaining the evidence collected from a non-consensual surveillance?

The role of maintaining evidence from non-consensual surveillance primarily falls to the evidence custodian. An evidence custodian is responsible for the proper handling, storage, and preservation of all evidence collected during investigations. This includes ensuring that the evidence remains intact, properly documented, and secure from tampering or degradation, which is crucial for maintaining its integrity for any legal proceedings.

In the case of non-consensual surveillance, the evidence gathered can be particularly sensitive and must be handled according to strict laws and regulations to ensure it can be used in court. The custodian oversees the chain of custody, which tracks the evidence from the point of collection to its presentation in court, ensuring that it can be verified as authentic and unaltered.

Although the district attorney, superior court judge, and investigating officer play vital roles during the legal process, their main responsibilities do not involve the direct handling or maintaining of evidence. The district attorney's focus is on prosecuting cases, the superior court judge oversees court proceedings and legal rulings, and the investigating officer primarily gathers evidence and conducts investigations. Therefore, the custodian's specific role in maintaining and safeguarding evidence makes them the most appropriate choice in this context.