New fingerprinting equipment, a computer server, and upgrades to the camera system will soon be supplied to the Mackinac County Sheriff's Office from a technology grant of $43,000, Sheriff Scott Strait told Mackinac County commissioners Thursday, July 23.

The money will be used to upgrade the Live Scan fingerprint machine. The machine can only take fingerprints, Mr. Strait said, and the federal Adam Walsh Act requires arrested sex offenders to have their palms scanned. A new machine, capable of scanning palms, will be purchased with the money. The new machine will replace the original fingerprint machine in the jail's booking area and the original machine will be moved to the lobby, meaning people will then be able to access the fingerprinting machine without entering the jail, such as for gun registrations.

The new computer server will allow the sheriff's office to transmit documents securely and improve communication with the prosecutor's office.

Some of the video cameras in the department will be upgraded from black and white to wideangle color cameras, and others may be upgraded to better record footage at night.

A corrections officer will be present whenever court is in session in a few weeks, Mr. Strait said. The county board of commissioners approved Mr. Strait's request to install a corrections officer at court cases, which will require the elimination of a parttime position and the creation of a full-time one.

The need for an officer to be present at all sessions was brought to the forefront recently when improper contact between litigants and the jury occurred, Mr. Strait said.

The court position will be posted internally, and the officer most qualified to be present at the court will be hired, Mr. Strait said. Specific training is required to work at the courthouse, including how to sequester the jury and witnesses and operate metal detectors.

The selected corrections officer will only be at the court when it is in session. He will perform other duties, such as filing accident reports, when it is not in session.

One officer has already received training, Mr. Strait said. Another officer may be trained in the future.

Tuition for the week-long court training course costs roughly $700, Mr. Strait said.