NATCHEZ — A grant to update software at the Natchez Police Department will soon allow police to share information about their striped guests on a computer screen with the Adams County Sheriff’s Office.

Part of the funding from a $48,000 stimulus grant the department received will allow the NPD to update its booking software, which will allow the police station to interface booking and warrant information with the Adams County Sheriff’s Office.

“It’s always best to share information and check local warrants on people that are arrested,” Natchez Police Chief Mike Mullins said.

Mullins said Friday his department is lucky to have recently received $30,000 from the grant to pay for the update.

The grant money came at a good time because the chief said he was recently notified that the old software would become obsolete and virtually stop working in two years.

Of the total grant funds, $30,000 will go toward updating the software, and $18,000 will go toward replacing and installing new security cameras at the station and inside the jail, Mullins said.

Mullins said station has had the same software since 1996, with only minor updates since that date.

“Before we had what you could call a green screen. This is more windows-based, much more user-friendly,” Mullins said.

Currently, both local law enforcement agencies use the phone to verify with the other office if any outstanding warrants exist when someone is arrested. The synced computer system should cut down on that step by providing the information automatically, saving time and manpower, while making certain no outstanding warrants fall through the cracks, Mullins said.

The new system will also help curb redundant work when entering inmate information into the booking system. General information on each inmate, including age and address, for example, will be entered during fingerprinting and then that data will be transferred to booking, Mullins said. Currently, officers often enter the same information more than once at various steps in the booking process.

The sheriff’s office has had the system since 2009 and is gradually getting it completely online.

Mullins said the update has already been installed and officers are in the process of being trained to use it. It will be fully functional and operating by the first week of the New Year, Mullins said.

The new security cameras funded by the remaining $18,000 of grant funds will have better resolution.

“The old cameras were outdated,” Mullins said.

Cameras will also be added to several areas in the jail for more thorough surveillance and placed outside the booking area and in the parking lots for more security.

The security cameras should be installed and operating by late January or early February.

The Southwest Mississippi Planning and Development District filed the application several months ago for stimulus money with the American Recovery and Reinvestment. The funds arrived within the last few weeks, Mullins said.