How should evidence be packaged to ensure its integrity?

To ensure the integrity of evidence, packaging must prevent tampering and contamination. Using tamper-proof seals serves this purpose effectively. These seals provide a clear indication if the package has been opened or altered, thus preserving the chain of custody, which is critical in legal proceedings.

The use of tamper-proof seals also helps to maintain the public's trust in the law enforcement process, demonstrating that steps are taken to protect the evidence from any manipulation that could undermine its validity. Additionally, when evidence is collected, the integrity of that evidence throughout its handling and storage is paramount to support its admissibility in court.

While standard envelopes, customized boxes, and non-sealed bags may serve some purpose in evidence collection, they do not inherently provide the protective measure that tamper-proof seals do. Standard envelopes might not secure the contents adequately, customized boxes could be useful but lack a secure mechanism without tamper-proof features, and non-sealed bags expose the contents to potential contamination or alteration without any protective measure in place. Therefore, the use of tamper-proof seals is the most effective method to ensure evidence integrity.