What is one of the critical aspects of substance evidence handling?

Documenting the chain of custody is crucial in the handling of substance evidence because it ensures the integrity and reliability of the evidence throughout the investigative process. The chain of custody is a systematic approach that tracks the movement and handling of evidence from the moment it is collected until it is presented in court. This documentation includes detailed records of who collected the evidence, when and where it was collected, and how it was stored and transferred.

Maintaining an unbroken chain of custody helps to verify that the evidence has not been altered or tampered with, which is vital for its admissibility in legal proceedings. Any gaps or discrepancies in this documentation could lead to challenges regarding the evidence's authenticity and reliability, potentially undermining the case.

In contrast, while labeling evidence for easy identification is important for organization, it does not address the legal and procedural aspects of maintaining evidence integrity. Contaminating a sample and storing it under improper conditions both compromise the quality and usefulness of the evidence, which directly contradicts the objective of proper evidence handling.