What ensures that digital images created by imaging systems are a legal substitute for the original public record?

The Imaging and Micrographic Services protocol is the correct answer because it establishes the guidelines and standards for creating and maintaining digital images of public records in New Jersey. This protocol ensures that the digital versions faithfully represent the original documents, meeting legal and regulatory requirements. It encompasses technical specifications for imaging, storage, and preservation, thereby affirming that the digital formats are legally admissible as substitutes for the original public records.

The other options, while relevant to the broader context of public records management, do not specifically address the legal requirements and procedures that validate digital images as equivalent to original records. The State Archives policy may guide archival practices but does not specifically cover the legality of digital imaging. A Governor's mandate might address various aspects of governance but lacks the operational focus on imaging standards. The State Records retention schedule pertains to how long records should be kept, rather than the legal standing of digitized copies.