What is a common method for preserving physical evidence at a crime scene?

Sealing evidence in proper containers is a crucial method for preserving physical evidence at a crime scene. This approach protects the evidence from contamination, degradation, and loss. Proper containers are specifically designed to minimize exposure to environmental factors such as moisture, temperature fluctuations, and light, which can all negatively impact the integrity of the evidence.

Using appropriate containers also ensures that the chain of custody is maintained. This chain is vital for legal proceedings because it establishes who handled the evidence and how it was managed from the crime scene to the courtroom. Containers may include evidence bags, boxes, or tubes, each chosen based on the type of evidence being collected, such as biological samples, trace evidence, or firearms.

The other options represent practices that would compromise the integrity of the evidence. Storing it in plain view could lead to tampering or contamination, inappropriate containers might not provide the necessary protection, and ignoring environmental conditions could result in degradation of the evidence. Thus, sealing in proper containers is an essential step in forensic practice.