What Type of Tape is Typically Used to Seal Evidence Bags?

In the meticulous world of law enforcement and forensic science, the integrity of evidence is paramount. From the moment an item is collected at a crime scene until it is presented in a courtroom, every step of its handling must be documented and protected against tampering. The humble evidence bag is the first line of defense in this process, and its seal is the critical lock. So, what type of tape is used for this vital task?
 

The answer is specialized Permanent Bag Sealing Tape, a category of high-security adhesive designed specifically for this purpose. This is not your everyday packing tape; it is a sophisticated Security Bag Tape engineered to be tamper-evident and irreversible.
 

The Gold Standard: Permanent Bag Sealing Tape
 

Permanent Bag Sealing Tape is the industry standard for a reason. Its core characteristics are designed to address the unique challenges of evidence preservation:
 

Strong, Permanent Adhesive: Once applied, this tape is meant to bond permanently with the bag's surface. Any attempt to remove it will result in the tape tearing, the bag ripping, or both. This "destructive" removal is a key feature, as it provides clear, visible proof that the bag has been compromised.
 

Tamper-Evident Features: Modern security tapes often include printed patterns, logos, or words like "EVIDENCE" or "VOID" repeatedly across their surface. If someone tries to peel the tape back, these patterns will separate, or the word "VOID" will appear on the bag and the tape, leaving an undeniable sign of tampering.
 

Serialization: For high-profile cases, Security Bag Tape can be pre-printed with unique serial numbers. This allows each seal to be logged and tracked, making it impossible to replace a broken seal with an identical one without detection.

Beyond the Tape: The Role of Security Bag Tape in the Chain of Custody
 

The term Security Bag Tape encompasses more than just the adhesive. It refers to an integrated system that maintains the "chain of custody"—the chronological documentation of everyone who handled the evidence.
 

1. Sealing the Bag: After the evidence is placed inside, the bag is closed, and the Permanent Bag Sealing Tape is stretched across the opening. It is often applied in a specific way, such as over the fold of the bag, with the ends extending onto the sides.

2.  Signing the Seal: The most crucial step occurs after the tape is applied. The investigating officer or collector signs their name, badge number, and date directly across the tape and onto the bag itself. This action personalizes the seal and creates a direct link between the officer and the evidence's integrity.

3. Creating a Barrier: This process creates a single, unified barrier. To access the evidence, one must destroy the signature, damage the tape, or tear the bag. Any of these actions would be immediately obvious to the next person in the chain of custody, breaking the documented sequence and raising red flags.
 

Why Not Use Regular Packing Tape?
 

It might be tempting to think any strong tape would suffice, but this is a dangerous misconception. Regular packing tape lacks the critical features of dedicated Security Bag Tape:
 

It can often be removed with heat or solvents without leaving clear damage.
 

It does not have tamper-evident patterns that reveal "VOID" upon removal.
 

Its adhesive may not be aggressive enough to bond permanently with the specific plastic of the evidence bag.
 

Using standard tape would create a significant vulnerability, potentially rendering evidence inadmissible in court.
 

Conclusion
 

The tape used to seal evidence bags is far from an afterthought. It is a precisely engineered component of forensic security: Permanent Bag Sealing Tape. As a critical form of Security Bag Tape, it provides the essential qualities of a permanent bond, clear tamper evidence, and a reliable surface for authentication. By ensuring that any attempt to access the evidence leaves a visible trail, this specialized tape upholds the integrity of the chain of custody and helps ensure that justice is served on a foundation of trustworthy proof.