Law enforcement will be permitted to take fingerprints from offenders for any offense if they are needed to resolve a file that is in suspense.
A file is in suspense when the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is unable to link a record with a booking because law enforcement did not collect an offender’s fingerprints during a previous booking.
When a person is arrested for a felony, gross misdemeanor or targeted misdemeanors they are required to be fingerprinted. Sometimes the fingerprinting does not occur or there is no arrest, but someone is charged. If the person does not have their fingerprints taken, there’s a bad set of prints or some data inconsistencies, the record can end up in suspense.
Supporters note that fingerprints are important in building a person’s criminal history and linking crimes together. For example, a person could use different names for different crimes, but their fingerprints do not change.
Authorities will not be permitted to pick up someone if it is discovered their file is in suspense; the person must first re-offend.
Rep. Tony Cornish (R-Vernon Center) and Sen. Bill Ingebrigtsen (R-Alexandria), sponsor the law that is effective Aug. 1, 2012. It was requested by the governor, who signed the law April 23, and public safety commissioner.
HF2160*/
SF2108/CH211
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