Saratoga News Fingerprinting done in a flash By Michelle Alaimo The Santa Clara County Sheriff's Department Westside Substation is going hi-tech. Starting next year, residents will be able to get their fingerprints done in a flash with the department's new Livescan fingerprinting machine. Livescan will save employers and residents time and money, Richard Reneau, latent print examiner with the sheriff's department said. Previously, when people wanted to have their fingerprints done, they had to have their fingers inked and rolled onto a card. The card was then sent to the Department of Justice, and would take six to eight weeks for processing. With Livescan, the finger is scanned and the print appears on a screen at the DOJ, Reneau said. The information then comes back to the requesting agency within three days by email or six days by mail. "Employers are just ecstatic with it," Reneau said. "They enjoy getting results back in 72 hours." Reneau added that not only are results faster, but they cost less. He said schools used to pay $32 for fingerprints and another $10 to expedite results within 17 days. Now the fee is $12 to the Sheriff's department. Applicants also save time by not having to wait for a clerical staff member to be free before taking their fingerprints. The downtown San Jose location does fingerprinting by appointment only. But Westside Substation's Lt. Cary Colla said he is unsure yet if applicants will be handled by appointments or if the station will be able to accommodate walk-ins. In the past, the station has worked on a walk-in basis only. In the meantime, those seeking more information on where to go for fingerprinting can contact the Westside Substation at 876-9715. [ Back to Contents Page | Saratoga News Home Page | Archives ] This article appeared in the Saratoga News, December 9, 1998. ©1998 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.