County of Flagler, Florida – The Sheriff’s Bureau of the County of Flagler has something new in its toolbox at the detention center for Sheriff Perry Hall inmates.
This is called the detainee recognition and identification system, also known as Iris
This technology can grasp more than 265 characteristics of the human eye.
This allows the sheriff’s office to stay in advance on the inmate to ensure that when they are reserved, they are what they say to be.
“I like to work here, I like to work in this environment,” said FCSO CMDR. Louis Miceli, who has worked for the department for 22 years.
“I like to work with prisoners and serve our community and make sure that when prisoners are released in the community, it is a safe and controlled environment,” added Miceli.
Miceli monitors a large part of what is done at the detention center for Sheriff Perry Hall detainees, and said that the Iris system had changed the way they did things.
“We have each inmate when they enter. They examine this, we call binoculars. What will happen is that you will need a photo of the iris, “he said.
The overall process in which a photo is taken occurs quickly.
The Sheriff of the County of Flagler, Rick Staly, said that technology is integrated into a national database, which means that other law enforcement organizations can use all the information they need.
“We have to stay ahead of the criminal,” said Staly. “Several times, criminals and detainees will try to give you a false name. They cannot exchange their eyeballs. Thus, this helps us to ensure that the right person is released from the guard at the appropriate time.”
Officials of the Sheriff’s office say that IRIS is much more precise than other identification methods such as the fingerprint, facial recognition and palm scan.
Staly said it was impatient to see how this technology will benefit the department.
“Now it has added a little additional work, because we are still doing fingerprints and do IRIS now.” He said. “But ultimately, I suspect that the fingerprints will disappear.”
Staly said he hoped that Iris technology will one day help his deputies on the ground.
This technology was made possible thanks to a partnership between the National Sheriffs’ Association and Bi2 technologies.
The equipment was provided to the Sheriff’s Bureau of Flagler without cost for taxpayers.