Cutting edge technology has made its way into the district’s application process. Thanks to Live Scan, a fingerprinting machine from CROSS MATCH Technologies, Inc., employee candidates are now able to save time by getting fingerprinted at the Serna Center.

Sac City security sergeant Vince Matranga is excited about the turn around time the new system offers the district. “The entire Live Scan system is going to benefit the district tremendously,” he said. “Results from background checks through fingerprinting used to take three to four months, now it only takes two to three days.”

Matranga said the entire printing process takes approximately 15 minutes. He expects that time will decrease as he and his staff become more familiar with the system. The district has been using the system only less than a month.

Other benefits of the new system are its inkless printing, digital file storing and the capability to send information through telephone lines, ensuring fast results. It will also ease the inconvenience of the entire process.

Serna Center’s fingerprinting machine is the only one in the region. Currently, it only serves the district, but the service will later be open to the public. There is charge for the convenient service. This will allow the district to recoup expenses and perhaps start a new revenue stream from the Live Scan system.

The cost for implementing was $22,000. It paid for the fingerprinting machine, printer and computer. Operation is done in-house by Matranga and his staff. Those applying for district jobs and need fingerprinting will have to pay $68. Of that amount, $12 goes to the district and the rest is divided between the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Matranga said a common misconception about finger printing is that only “bad people get fingerprinted.”

“If you’ve been in trouble with the law, either big or small, chances are your fingerprints are on file,” he explained. “If that person is planning to work with children, we need to know about it.”

Fingerprinting is required prior to employment in all districts in California.