Evidence checked out for investigative purposes shall be returned within ?

• A. 5 days
• B. 15 days
• C. 21 days
• D. 30 days

Answer: (B)

Evidence checked out for investigative purposes must be returned within fifteen days. This timeframe balances giving investigators enough time to review, document, or test the item with the need to keep property available for other cases and to maintain an accurate chain of custody. Five days is typically too short for proper examination, while twenty-one or thirty days can unnecessarily tie up evidence and slow processes. If more time is truly needed, extensions are handled through the proper supervisory channels, but the standard expectation is a fifteen-day return.