USPS Sales and Services Associate (SSA) Academy 421 Practice Exam

Custody describes the Postal Service’s duty to hold mail in its physical possession and safeguard it from loss, damage, or tampering from acceptance to delivery. This concept covers the entire chain of custody—proper handling, secure storage, accurate tracking, and accountability at each step. While security and privacy relate to protection from threats and protection of personal information, custody specifically conveys the responsibility of keeping the mail itself under the Postal Service’s care throughout the process. Care is related but less formal; custody is the precise term for this official obligation to preserve and protect mail while it’s in the USPS system.