Which item is essential for securing crime scene evidence?

An evidence bag is crucial for securing crime scene evidence as it serves a specific purpose in the forensic process. When items are collected from a crime scene, they must be preserved in a manner that prevents contamination, degradation, or loss of evidence. An evidence bag provides a secure environment for each item, ensuring that it remains intact and its integrity is maintained until it can be properly analyzed in a forensic lab.

Utilizing an evidence bag also aids in the documentation process, as it typically includes space for labeling critical information such as the case number, description of the evidence, date, time, and the identity of the person collecting it. This level of careful packaging and labeling is essential in maintaining the chain of custody, which is a legal requirement for evidence to be admissible in court.

Other options may play supportive roles in the overall investigation or documentation process, but an evidence bag is specifically designed to address the need for protecting and preserving physical evidence from a crime scene.