Which step is unnecessary for maintaining the chain of custody during transport?

• A. Document possession and transfer acknowledgments.
• B. Seal items and label.
• C. Log times and maintain custody logs.
• D. Store evidence with unsealed items in a common locker.

Answer: (D)

Maintaining the chain of custody means keeping a clear, unbroken record of who has the evidence, when they had it, and that the item’s integrity is preserved at all times. The essential steps involve documenting possession and transfers so every hand-off is traceable, sealing and labeling the item to prevent tampering, and logging times and custody movements to create an auditable timeline.

Storing evidence with unsealed items in a common locker is not compatible with that standard. Without seals and secure, controlled storage, anyone could access or mix items, and there’s no reliable way to prove exactly which item was in custody at a given moment or who handled it. That undermines the integrity and admissibility of the evidence.

The other steps—documenting transfers, sealing and labeling, and keeping a detailed custody log—are necessary to establish and maintain an unbroken chain.