What describes the purpose of seals and signatures in chain of custody?

• A. They are optional for large items.
• B. They only apply to digital evidence.
• C. They authenticate the handoffs and verify no tampering.
• D. They are used for labeling color codes.

Answer: (C)

Seals and signatures in the chain of custody are used to ensure the evidence remains intact and fully accounted for as it moves from collection to court. The seal provides tamper-evidence, so if the item is opened, the seal is broken and the event is recorded. The signature or initials document who handled the item at each transfer, when, and under what conditions. Together, they create an unbroken, verifiable trail that proves no one altered, substituted, or misplaced the evidence, which is essential for its admissibility in court. They aren’t optional for large items, they apply to all physical evidence (not just digital), and they aren’t simply for labeling color codes.