COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced today that a grant program aimed at improving the state’s criminal-records repository will fund 77 new devices for courts across Ohio to capture defendants’ fingerprints for the 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 modernize the record-keeping system by building in a more fail-safe process to collect fingerprints.”
Ohio law mandates the Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) to maintain the state’s Computerized Criminal History (CCH), a database containing fingerprints and criminal records based on information supplied by over 200 courts statewide. These records are essential for criminal investigations, prosecutorial charges, sentencing decisions, correctional supervision, and background checks.
The new machines, called LiveScan devices, will be distributed to courts in 42 counties, helping to address gaps in defendant fingerprinting and automate the submission of those fingerprints to the CCH.
The devices, costing $898,450, were purchased through a National Criminal History Improvement Program grant administered by the Attorney General’s Office. This federal grant is the latest effort by Yost’s office to modernize Ohio’s criminal record-keeping and reporting processes.
Chief Justice Sharon L. Kennedy of the Supreme Court of Ohio supported the decision to fund the LiveScan devices, emphasizing the importance of accurate reporting of criminal case information. “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,” she said.
How the Process Works
Records are added to the state’s CCH whenever an individual is arrested, has a court appearance in connection with a criminal case, or is sentenced. Court clerks supply much of the data, including fingerprints, which match a criminal record to an individual.
A defendant’s fingerprints can be captured at various stages of the criminal justice process, but logistical challenges have sometimes led to lapses. The acquisition of LiveScan machines by courts helps law enforcement address these gaps, ensuring fingerprints are captured and a defendant’s criminal record is promptly submitted to BCI.
“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.
Local Impact
Courts in Ross, Pike, Scioto, Highland, and Fayette counties in our viewing area also received grant funding for these new fingerprinting devices, further supporting the statewide effort to enhance the accuracy and completeness of Ohio’s criminal records system.
For more information, residents can contact the Ohio Attorney General’s Office.
