Which of the following is true about an inventory search?

• A. It inventories contents during impoundment to protect against false claims and ensure safety.
• B. It is used to collect evidence for a prosecution only.
• C. It is always conducted with a search warrant.
• D. It is performed only after formal arrest.

Answer: (A)

An inventory search is an administrative step taken when police have seized or taken custody of a person’s property, such as during vehicle impoundment or after an arrest, to catalog what is there. The main purpose is to safeguard the owner’s property, deter claims of loss or theft, and protect officers from liability or accusations that items were planted. This aligns with the statement that an inventory search inventories contents during impoundment to protect against false claims and ensure safety. It’s not primarily about gathering evidence for prosecution, it doesn’t always require a search warrant, and it isn’t strictly limited to after a formal arrest.