The fingerprint scanner at the Schuylkill County Prison is now operational.

Schuylkill County Sheriff Joseph Groody said Thursday an additional piece of equipment was received recently, permitting the final certification.

“We didn’t print anybody on it yet,” he said, adding that will probably occur next week.

State police certified the machine in April.

The system includes a computer, camera, fingerprint machine and other necessary items.

Five employees are trained on the machine. A sheriff’s deputy will do the fingerprinting in a secure room near the library.

Prison funds paid for the purchase.

Having the machine at the prison will eliminate prisoners trying to escape when they go to the sheriff’s office at the county courthouse for fingerprinting, Groody said.