Charging, warrants and more at touch of a finger

This small device was just installed and activated in the sheriff’s office for “E-Charging.” As the next advance in law enforcement and judiciary technology the system is meant to save paper, share information more efficiently and reduce staff time previously spent hand-delivering documents. The device reads the fingerprint of the authorized user, who can then begin the process of filing charges against an offender in the county. The draft complaint comes to the authorized user on his computer. His fingerprint is verified. He signs off electronically and forwards the document to the sheriff’s department notary, who attests to the identity of the authorized person initiating the complaint. The notary sends it to courts administration and on to the judge. The judge also can use his or her fingerprint reader to authorize search warrants. Chisago County is not the first county in the state to be part of the E-charging system but it is getting in pretty early, a sheriff’s spokesperson commented.