The fingerprint scanner at the Schuylkill County Prison could be making an imprint soon.

“We haven’t used it yet,” Chief Sheriff’s Deputy Brian Tobin said Wednesday.

He said the item was purchased last year but for various reasons it hasn’t been up and running. One of those is state police must certify that everything meets requirements. The state certified the machine about two weeks ago, but additional verification is needed, Tobin said. The system includes a computer, camera, fingerprint machine and other necessary items.

Sheriff Joe Groody said a connection needs to be checked by an out-of-county firm as the last step.

“It’s going to be a big asset,” Groody said, adding it will cut down on prisoners possibly trying to escape when they go to the sheriff’s office at the county courthouse presently to get fingerprinted.

Overtime costs will also be reduced, he said.

When fully operational, hopefully by next month, a sheriff’s deputy will do the fingerprinting in a secure room near the library.

The machine was mentioned at the commissioners’ meeting Wednesday when Finance Director Paul Buber presented a budget adjustment for $36,080 to come out of prison funds.