New York State Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele, Jr. (I, D, WF-Sag Harbor) today congratulated the Suffolk County Police Department, Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office, and the Southampton Village Police Department on securing State funds to replace aging electronic fingerprinting equipment.

In total, nearly $710,000 in state grants were awarded to 51 police departments and sheriffs’ offices across the state for the purchase of electronic fingerprinting equipment. Suffolk County Police Department is slated to receive $150,000 to replace 15 devices at 12 separate locations, Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office was awarded $10,000, and the Southampton Village Police Department was awarded $10,000.

All fingerprints taken in connection with arrests must be submitted electronically to the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services – the state's repository of criminal history record information – and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Digital fingerprint technology enables law enforcement agencies and the courts to instantly receive an arrestee’s positive identification and any past criminal history and warrant information from the state. This information is crucial in determining how cases against arrested individuals proceed, including whether bail is set by the court.

The Division of Criminal Justice Services expects to administer another round of funding for this equipment in 2016.