The Department of Public Safety has a new fingerprinting device called LIVE SCAN that is now fully operational and is available to the campus community. The new device will enable the public safety department to provide fingerprinting services for students, faculty and staff involved in university related programs.

LIVE SCAN operator Erin Middleton said the device will be more convenient than ones used in the past.

“It will make fingerprinting a lot faster and more convenient for anyone associated with Sacramento State,” Middleton said. “We are no longer using ink, the fingerprints will now be recorded by a laser.”

The device sends fingerprints to the Department of Justice via phone line, much like the Internet works. This process now makes it possible to get results in one to two weeks instead of the months that it took in the past.

LIVE SCAN is primarily being used as a mandatory precursor for a teaching credential, and other programs where working with children is involved.

“It is a quicker way to fingerprint applicants,” Middleton said. “People no longer have to go to the Department of Justice and wait in line for hours.”

The device will also be used for some criminal cases. The main use in criminal cases will be to aid the police if someone refuses to give them their identity. Then fingerprinting will be done to find out the identity of the person.

“Right now we are using the device more for applicants than criminals,” Middleton said. “We will use LIVE SCAN with criminals when it is needed though.”

The fees for using this system vary depending on the type of check that needs to be done. It may also include charges for the Department of Justice, FBI and Child Abuse Central Index, along with a $10 fee for maintenance and incurred costs of the machine.

Barbara Alvarado, secretary of public safety said that the greatest benefit of this new system is the convenience to students, faculty and staff.