Inventory searches are conducted to catalog an arrestee's belongings and safeguard property; they can also apply to impounded vehicles.

• A. To locate weapons
• B. To identify and seize contraband during a crime
• C. To obtain a search warrant
• D. To catalog an arrestee's belongings and safeguard property

Answer: (D)

Inventory searches are administrative actions designed to create an inventory of what a person has and to protect the owner’s property from loss or damage, as well as to shield the police from false claims. They also apply to vehicles that are impounded, where officers inventory the contents to prevent disputes or theft and to preserve any items that belong to the owner.

Options that focus on locating weapons or contraband describe investigative or evidentiary searches, not the routine cataloging purpose of an inventory check. Obtaining a search warrant is a separate legal step and not the aim of an inventory procedure.