The Marshall County Council members considered an additional appropriation for a fingerprinting machine for the probation department.
As previously reported, Sheriff Matt Hassel requested to purchase an iTouch Biometrics fingerprinting machine for the probation office. He said many people convicted of a first-time misdemeanor offense or a minor felony crime may not have been booked and fingerprinted in the Marshall County Jail. Indiana code states that the court shall order the defendant to be fingerprinted by an official qualified to do so. That could be done at the probation department when dealing with a defendant sentenced to probation. A fingerprinting machine is not available in the office now.
Fingerprinting all offenders is critical, especially if an offender wants to purchase a firearm and a specific conviction prohibits a sale.
Hassel said the state police authorized the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department to purchase the machine. The cost is $15,208.15. Superior Court 2 Judge Dean Colvin submitted an additional appropriation request in the amount of $18,000 out of the General Fund to cover the installation cost that includes a phone line connection.
A motion failed to reach the table so the request died for a lack of a motion. The council members stated that they want to hear why the money would come out of the General Fund rather than probation fees as previously mentioned.
The council members hope to hear from Judge Colvin at their next meeting on Monday, March 12.
