Nueces County may be one fingerprint scan away from a less populated jail.

County Commissioner's on Wednesday approved nearly $10,000 for a "LiveScan" system. The $9,523 system, used to capture fingerprints and run criminal histories on people, will be used to streamline the county's "cite in lieu of arrest" program.

The upcoming program will give Corpus Christi Police Department officers and Nueces County Sheriff's deputies the discretion to give citations in lieu of arrest."

District Attorney Mark Gonzalez said the LiveScan system will be kept at the Nueces County Courthouse. Those who get a citation would come to court for a mass arraignment, which would be held bi-monthly.

More:Takeaways from the newly appointed Nueces County Sheriff's interview

More:Here's Nueces County District Attorney Mark Gonzalez's top priorities

Newly appointed Sheriff J.C. Hooper told commissioners during his October interview that citing in lieu of arrest for low-level, nonviolent offenses may help overcrowding at the jail.

The county jail has 1,068 beds, but an expansion of the McKinzie Jail Annex is in the works. The expansion will add 144 beds to the annex.

As of early December, the jail was still near capacity.

Offenses subject to the policy — typically Class A and B misdemeanors — would include "theft, possession of marijuana, possession of synthetic cannabinoids, graffiti, criminal mischief, criminal trespass, and possession of contraband in a correctional facility," according to documents submitted to commissioner's court.

A fingerprint scan will assign the offender a tracking number for their cases.

"When it goes into effect. it could help us reduce (the jail population) number, especially help us reduce the number of people in our holding," Hooper said. "Many of those people that are in holding at this time, could have been a candidate for getting a ticket instead of getting physically booked into this facility."

The booking process involves several moving parts, and most of the people booked are in holding cells for up to 48 hours before they are put into a cell or are released on bail.

More:Nueces County Sheriff Chris Hooper tells jailers he will dress like a correctional officer

More:Sheriff Jim Kaelin willing to work as jailer to keep overcrowded Nueces County Jail afloat

Gonzalez estimated at a minimum, the program will save the county $24,000 each month. He said the program would also keep low-level offenders who do not need to be behind bars out of jail.

"I'm very on the future of Nueces County for low level offenders," Gonzalez said. "And not only that, we're being cognizant of the tax payer's money ... It doesn't make sense not to try this."

Gonzalez said law enforcement will keep their discretion on whether to cite someone or arrest them.

He said the program is expected to start by Feb. 18.

"If it works the way we think it's going to work, it's going to definitely benefit the Nueces County Sheriffs Office, the county jail," Hooper said. "It's going to impact a lot of people — the patrol officer, the City Detention Center the Nueces County Jail."

The new sheriff does see the potential for more warrants if the program is implemented.

More:Nueces County District Attorney Mark Gonzalez announces drug interdiction team

More:Nueces County district attorney makes mark after year in office

Suspected offenders will still appear before a judge, enter a plea and potentially have a trial. But Hooper sees the possibility of people not appearing for their court dates.