According to the rules for marking evidence, what should marks on evidence be?

Marks on evidence should be as small as possible but still legible to ensure that the evidence remains intact and minimally altered. This practice is crucial in maintaining the integrity of the evidence, especially in legal contexts where any alteration could be questioned. By keeping marks small, investigators minimize the potential for obstruction or distraction from the evidence itself while ensuring that the necessary identification can still be easily read and understood.

Using overly large markings could obscure important details of the evidence, potentially jeopardizing its usefulness in an investigation or court proceedings. The clarity and precision of evidence handling are essential for establishing credibility and reliability in the investigative process. Thus, the emphasis on keeping markings minimal yet legible aligns with best practices in evidence management, ensuring that the evidence retains its original condition as much as possible.