Which of the following is NOT a possible consequence of mishandling crime scene investigations?

• A. Evidence may be contaminated
• B. Evidence may not be admissible in court
• C. Evidence may be circumstantial
• D. Evidence may be lost

Answer: (C)

Mishandling a crime scene threatens evidence integrity. Improper collection, packaging, or contamination can distort results, making evidence unreliable. A break in the chain of custody or poor documentation can render evidence inadmissible in court, and items can be lost or misplaced during sloppy handling. The classification of evidence as circumstantial versus direct is about what the evidence proves, not how it was collected or preserved. Mishandling doesn’t inherently change evidence from circumstantial to direct or vice versa, so that particular consequence isn’t tied to how the scene was mishandled.