Live Scan Fingerprinting
Protecting Your Family’s Safety
By: Michelle Trippi

In late 1997 legislation was passed that required an automated background check to include digitized fingerprints in the State of California. The California Department of Justice (DOJ) was to take on this task and it is called Live Scan. This new technology replaced the antiquated method of recording fingerprints by using rolled ink, which then became smudged during the process of handling and mailing, therefore rendering many of the fingerprints illegible. The ink method also slowed down the criminal background clearance to a period of weeks or months in which time many prospective employees were held up in obtaining jobs or even worse, predators or criminal were not found until too late. The new Live Scan process eliminated the long waiting period and employers and licensing agencies now have the ability to get the results within days and the fingerprints to the FBI, if required, without delay.

For Natalie Angelman, owner of Angelman’s Livescan, her firm beliefs in child safety and the known fact that most predators seek out daycares, private schools and events involving children, the decision to explore this business as a potential owner was a “no-brainer”. What started out as what Natalie called a “fluke” began a process of a 2-year approval process, an extensive background check and an investment in expensive equipment has ended up being a passion for her and her family. “It is very important to me that the environment to which our children are exposed is safe,” says Natalie.

Parents want to know their children are safe and they can leave them in the hands of other responsible citizens in day cares, public and private schools, hospitals, with coaches, psychologists, volunteer organizations, school volunteers and this list goes on. This is why this technology is so important. There are so many people that touch the lives of our families each and every day. One thing I found while looking through Natalie’s information that was sent to aid in this article is that driving instructors and realtors need Live Scan too. Not to single out these professions and get in trouble here, but to use as an example, driving instructors are left alone with teen drivers and realtors are potentially left alone around our families if showing our house for sale. I never thought about that before as I am not selling my house, nor is my daughter driving yet, thank goodness for us all!

Currently serving Solano, Yolo, Sacramento, Napa and Contra Costa Counties, Angelman’s Live Scan is a mobile service, available by appointment only that provides services to schools, employers, and any other private or public organization that needs or wants to provide public safety by having their employees or volunteers fingerprinted for the July 1, 2005 California DOJ requirement that all fingerprints must be submitted electronically. Being mobile allows the Live Scan technology to come to your door instead of employers or organizations to lose valuable time and money by sending their employees to another location. “I am finding that a lot of employees and volunteers are told that the only place they can get fingerprinted is at the Sheriff’s or Police Departments, and the County Office of Education and this is not the case,” says Natalie, “you can sometimes end up being on a waiting list at the government agencies.” If time is of essence, these other Angelman’s Live Scan can come directly to you or you can make an appointment at their office. The pricing that is can be as little as $47, depending on the type of service that is being performed, is a small price to pay for our child’s safety and our piece of mind as parents. Along with digital fingerprinting service, Angelman’s Livescan also provides drug & TB testing, criminal history searches, education and employment verifications, wants and warrants searches, and more.

One other very important service Angelman’s Livescan offers that parents tend to overlook is fingerprinting our own children. None of us want to face our worst nightmare or believe it will ever happen, but the facts prove that the police and authorities have an easier time retracing the steps of missing children if they have fingerprints and a current photo. Natalie suggests updating your child’s CD once a year by contacting her to obtain a current CD or by simply placing the most recent school picture in the CD packet. Most importantly if your child gets a scar or any other identifying changes in their appearance, or an injury that changes their fingerprints; you will want to update the CD immediately.

If you want more information about Natalie’s business, Angelman’s Livescan visit www.angelmansinc.com, email livescan@angelmasnotary.com or call 707-693-1947. Angelman’s Livescan also has an office by appointment only; 1425 Market Lane, Suite F, Dixon, CA 95620. Available appointments are same day, night and weekends at no extra charge.

For more information on the California Department of Justice visit http://ag.ca.gov/.

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