Sharp County Detention Center implements biometric eye scan system
Tammy Curtis, Publisher
The Sharp County Sheriff’s Office has added another piece of advanced technology to the Sharp County Detention Center, this time using biometric eye scans to verify inmates’ identities.
The Inmate Recognition and Identification System, or IRIS, from BI2 Technologies is a biometric identification platform designed for jails and detention centers. The system uses scans of the iris — the colored portion of the eye — to quickly and accurately identify individuals.
Using infrared light, the device captures hundreds of unique characteristics of a person’s iris and compares the scan against records in its database. According to BI2 Technologies, the matching process takes only seconds.
Because iris patterns are highly distinctive, the technology provides law enforcement with another method of confirming a person’s identity beyond traditional fingerprints and photographs.
Adding another layer to booking
Jails can use IRIS during the booking process to identify people who may be using false names or aliases. The technology can also be used to confirm an inmate’s identity before release, helping prevent the wrong person from being discharged.
For the Sharp County Sheriff’s Office, implementing IRIS did not require changing the way the jail operates. Instead, Sheriff Shane Russell said the technology was easily incorporated into the detention center’s existing booking process.
“Setting up the equipment was extremely easy, with a true plug-and-play feature that allowed us to get up and running with very little effort,” Russell said.
Much of the information collected through the system corresponds with information detention center personnel already enter into the jail management system.
“We have incorporated IRIS into our normal booking process, and it has been a very positive addition to our agency,” Russell said.
The system provides an additional level of confidence that the person being booked is who he or she claims to be without creating a separate administrative process for detention center personnel.
Tracking
registered sex offenders
Russell said the department also sees potential for IRIS in helping law enforcement identify and track registered sex offenders.
For agencies responsible for monitoring registered offenders, accurately establishing a person’s identity can have direct public safety implications.
“Having IRIS Scan gives us the ability to identify and track registered sex offenders; this is very important to public safety,” Russell said.
Biometric identification can help personnel recognize individuals previously entered into the system and provide additional information to support monitoring and enforcement responsibilities.
Connecting law enforcement agencies
IRIS information can also be accessed through a secure, web-based network used by participating law enforcement agencies, while agencies maintain control of their locally collected data.
Russell said that capability could become increasingly valuable as more agencies participate in the system.
“By using IRIS, we are moving toward a more progressive and connected future, where accurate information can be shared nationally without unnecessary delays,” Russell said.
The goal, he said, is to give law enforcement personnel access to accurate identity information more quickly, allowing them to make better-informed decisions.
No upfront cost to county
Sharp County was designated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to receive the IRIS system without an upfront cost to the agency.
That allowed the Sheriff’s Office to implement the technology without an initial capital expenditure and evaluate how well it works in the day-to-day operation of the detention center.
Russell said the experience so far has been positive.
“The system was easy to deploy. It fits within the existing booking workflow. It does not create significant additional work for staff. And it provides greater confidence in the identity information available to the agency,” he said.
Based on the department’s experience, Russell said he would recommend the technology to other law enforcement agencies.
“Based on our experience, I would recommend IRIS to other agencies. It is easy to set up, simple to use, fits into the existing booking process, and provides an added level of confidence in the identity information we receive,” Russell said.
For Russell, the technology ultimately represents another tool available to the department as it works to improve safety both inside the detention center and throughout the community.
“We have seen firsthand the value it brings to our agency and the additional resources it provides for public safety,” he said.
