New Law Requires Kentucky Jailers to Fingerprint All Inmates

FRANKFORT, Ky. — A law passed in July requires Kentucky jailers to electronically fingerprint all inmates booked at local jails.

Although state law already requires that inmates be fingerprinted, confusion over whether jailers or arresting officers were responsible for collecting prints resulted in only 51 percent of the 308,500 people booked at state jails being fingerprinted last year.

Using the Livescan system, jailers take a computer scan of a person’s fingerprints and transmit them to state and federal databases, which triggers an automatic search to determine whether the person has a criminal record.

Law enforcement officials say the automated system is helpful in finding and apprehending suspects, but it can be a financial strain on small counties with tight budgets.

The state has issued Livescan equipment to all 74 Kentucky jails, but jail officials say that they do not have the manpower or the budget to operate the equipment.

Many jails are planning to hire additional deputies to handle extra booking and fingerprinting, according to reports.

Jails that receive aid from the state corrections department to house inmates risk having their funding pulled if they do not comply with the new law.