New state jail requires jails to fingerprint persons being booked into the jail.

   July 12, 2006, a state law went into effect requiring jails to fingerprint everyone booked into the jail.  This fingerprinting is done on Livescan electronic equipment supplied to the jails by the state.  The Livescan equipment had been in use in McCracken County for several years before the law was enacted by the 2006 state legislature.

     The fingerprinting of inmates, by jail personnel, had long been debated within the Kentucky Jailers' Association with a number of jailers being opposed to the procedure.  Opposing jailers said it would require the hiring of additional personnel.

    Warren County Jailer Jackie T. Strode told the Associated Press, "We're not equipped for it.  It's an unfunded mandate that county taxpayers will have to foot the bill."

  Hardin County Jailer Louis Lawson, a proponent of Livescan, told AP the procedure hadn't been a big strain on his jail since he decided to train deputies to use it when it was installed several years ago.

    McCracken County did the same as Hardin County and didn't hire any additional personnel.  It is just part of the necessary booking procedure.  Kentucky until Livescan was installed had the distinction of being dead last, in the nation, in fingerprinting jail bookings.

    Kentucky Corrections Commissioern John Rees said, " There shouldn't be a problem in gathering fingerprints.  That's just part of running a jail,  You fingerprint people."