COLUMBUS, Ohio — In an effort to improve the accuracy and completeness of Ohio’s criminal-records repository, a new grant program will fund 77 fingerprint scanners for courts across the state. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced today that these devices will help courts capture defendants’ fingerprints for submission to the state’s database.
“Fingerprints are a critical piece of the puzzle when verifying someone’s identity and checking their criminal backgrounds,” Yost said. “These grant funds are being invested in the courts to further modernize the record-keeping system by building in a more fail-safe process to collect fingerprints. In doing this, law enforcement, employers, and even everyday Ohioans can have greater confidence in the system.”
Ross County Court of Common Pleas will receive one device, Fayette County will receive two devices.
The Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) is responsible for maintaining Ohio’s Computerized Criminal History (CCH) database, which includes fingerprints and criminal records from over 200 courts statewide. These records are crucial for criminal investigations, prosecutorial charges, sentencing decisions, correctional supervision and release, and background checks for various licenses and employment.
The new LiveScan devices, costing $898,450, will be distributed to courts in 42 counties. These devices, funded through a National Criminal History Improvement Program grant administered by the Attorney General’s Office, aim to fill gaps in fingerprinting and automate the submission process to the CCH.
Chief Justice Sharon L. Kennedy of the Supreme Court of Ohio supported the decision, emphasizing the importance of accurate criminal case reporting. “LiveScan devices will aid courts in fulfilling that statutory requirement by improving the efficiency of reporting, underscoring our commitment to prioritizing the safety of Ohioans,” Kennedy said.
The devices will ensure that fingerprints are captured at various stages of the criminal justice process, preventing instances where fingerprinting may have previously fallen through the cracks. This “belt and suspenders” approach aims to ensure that a defendant’s criminal record is promptly submitted to the BCI.
Attorney General Yost expressed gratitude to the judges and court clerks who have supported this initiative. “I’m pleased and grateful that so many judges and court clerks have stepped up to solidify their protocols and do their part to keep the state’s criminal records as current and accurate as possible,” Yost added.
For more information and a list of courts receiving the new fingerprinting machines, visit the Ohio Attorney General’s website.
