Bringing Biometric Facial Recognition Software to Corrections Departments.

The Justice Prisoner and Alien Transportation System (JPATS), began in 1995 and was the result of the merging of the U.S. Marshal Service and Immigration and Naturalization Service Jet plane fleets. The program is nicknamed "Con air" and it is the largest prison transport network in the world. The system mainly support the Federal Bureau of Prisons and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement but JPATS also assist military and state law enforcement.

The Biometric facial recognition software vendor chosen by the federal government to support the U.S. Marshal JPATS program has the highest test scores in the U.S. by the National Institute of Standards and Technology based on annual Facial Recognition Vendor Testing. The software vendor that tops the competitors has a 99.97% rating for speed and accuracy. Impressive!

Why is Facial Recognition a great technological tool for Corrections systems?

Facial recognition software allows Correction agencies a means of tracking offenders while reducing the chance of false identification, duplications, and human error. By positively identifying/verifying offenders, personnel no longer have to deal with the difficulty of fingerprint scanners and can save time by streamlining the booking and release processes with efficiency and accuracy. Touchless biometric verification of prisoners’ identities can now be accomplished at a distance during transport, including in the wide variety of weather and lighting conditions commonly found in outdoor prisoner exchanges.

Many Correctional systems utilize a video visitation process. This type of program makes great sense for Corrections agencies by reducing costs, improving safety and security, and allowing for greater flexibility in designating visiting hours. Similar to the Correction Department monitoring all phone calls, video visitation must be monitored. Biometric facial recognition can effectively assist in this type of program since visitors are generally required to pre-enroll as a requirement of a visit, facial recognition software will positively identify the visitor and alert if an "unenrolled visitor" appears on screen

Are there cost barriers for this kind of software?

The best software that I have found operates on most existing digital cameras, there is no camera cost, the software has a very small computer processing consumption, has been continuously (year after year), ranked as the top biometric facial recognition by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and most importantly has a reasonable and affordable monthly license fee of between $45 and $65 per camera depending on volume. This software has an incredible record of accuracy and efficiency. It is used by the U.S. Dept. of Defense, 10 of the largest banks in the world, schools, and numerous federal and local law enforcement agencies. These are the reasons my company recommends this software to all of our clients

There are companies that combine camera and software and charge as much as $30,000 annually. WOW! Axon, formerly Taser, utilizes an Advanced License Plate Recognition software in there camera systems in police vehicles and fixed pole cameras. The monthly fee is $200 per camera, and there is an additional installation fee per camera. This article is not about License Plate Recognition software, and I think it is a fair comparison given the similar identification/verification that is central to this type of technology.

Conclusion

Biometric facial recognition software is a great tool for verifying/identifying a person. The best "use case" for this technology is in high security facilities such as Corrections departments in jails. Research of the various technologies available was easily accomplished by looking at the annual vendor testing results from the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Biometric facial recognition software comes in many flavors. In other words, some companies want to sell you a camera and the software while other companies require additional types of algorithms bundled together in a software development kit to increase profit. The company that I found to be the best has the highest ranking on the annual Facial Recognition Vendor Testing (FRVT), uses very little computer processor capacity (which contributes to the speed and accuracy capabilities), and also has reasonable pricing.

The writer is a former 20 year police detective with experience in the sale of high technology security equipment and apparatus over the past 15 years. Corrections Departments who have interest in implementing an affordable biometric facial recognition program on their digital surveillance camera systems can contact the writer at [email protected]