What is the recommended handling practice for paper documents at a crime scene?

Handling paper documents at a crime scene requires careful attention to preserve the integrity of the evidence. The recommended practice is to handle them as little as possible and secure them to prevent further handling. This approach minimizes the risk of damaging the document or contaminating it with fingerprints or other organic materials.

Securing the documents helps maintain a clear chain of custody and ensures that they remain in their original condition for analysis and potential court presentation. The less they are handled, the lower the chance of introducing errors or corrupting the evidence, which is crucial for maintaining the reliability of the information contained within these documents.

This practice contrasts sharply with folding, photocopying, or placing documents in a binder, all of which could lead to alterations, loss of critical information, or issues with evidence chain of custody. Such actions could complicate an investigation or reduce the documents' admissibility in court.