Should evidence be marked and photographed prior to being moved? True or False?

Marking and photographing evidence prior to moving it is essential in the context of law enforcement and crime scene management. This practice serves multiple critical purposes. First, it ensures that the original state of the evidence is documented in detail, which is vital for maintaining the integrity of the evidence. Photographs provide a visual record of the scene and the position of the evidence, which can be crucial when presenting the case in court.

Documenting evidence correctly helps maintain a clear chain of custody, as it shows how the evidence was found and handled at the scene. This is important for demonstrating that the evidence has not been tampered with or altered, which could compromise its admissibility in legal proceedings.

The practice of marking evidence also helps in clearly identifying it later during the investigation and court processes, reducing the likelihood of any confusion. Therefore, marking and photographing evidence before any movement is a fundamental step in proper evidence collection and preservation in law enforcement.