MCOLES State Licensing Practice Exam

During the tagging of evidence, which of the following is NOT required for chain-of-custody?

1. Time

2. Size of the item

3. Description of the item

4. Location of the item

The correct answer is: Size of the item

In the context of evidence handling and chain-of-custody procedures, maintaining the integrity and traceability of evidence is critical for legal processes. The required elements for establishing a reliable chain-of-custody generally include the time the evidence was collected, a thorough description of the item, and its location. Time is essential because it documents when the evidence was collected or transferred, which is vital for establishing a timeline of events. The description of the item provides essential details necessary to identify the evidence, ensuring that it can be distinguished from other items. The location is also crucial, as it shows where the evidence has been stored or where it was found, helping to prevent any claim of tampering or mix-ups. In contrast, while knowing the size of the item may be helpful for identification purposes, it is not a standard requirement within the formal chain-of-custody documentation. Therefore, it is not integral for establishing the chain-of-custody, making it the correct answer to this question.