Which statement best describes the transfer concept in investigations?

• A. Transfer occurs only in the lab
• B. Nothing moves in a crime scene
• C. Something is always taken to and from a scene
• D. All evidence is transferred digitally

Answer: (C)

Transfer concept in investigations means trace evidence is exchanged between people, objects, and surfaces whenever there is contact. In practice, nothing involved in a case exists in a flawless, exchange-free state; when someone touches a surface, they can leave material behind, and they can also pick up material from that surface. That means something is always taken to and from a scene—whether it’s a person carrying fibers or skin cells, or investigators moving items and delivering them to the lab. This idea isn’t limited to the lab, and not all evidence is digital; most evidence is physical and can be moved or exchanged during and after the incident.