There is a new technology available now at the Monroe County Jail to make sure authorities know the correct identities of the people they are dealing with.
It is called, “I.R.I.S.“ an acronym for Inmate Recognition Identification System, and it uses biometric technology. It uses a high resolution picture of the inmate’s eyes to help identify the person.
Sheriff Todd Baxter says it helps the jail very quickly identify who the inmate is and can provide other information as well, including whether the person has faced criminal charges elsewhere and whether they’ve had mental health issues which would help inform any decisions about future treatment.
Baxter says this system can foil criminals who sometimes try to change or misrepresent their identities to avoid prosecution for crimes they have committed.
The Monroe County Sheriff’s office joins more than 200 other sheriff’s departments and department of corrections facilities across the country that are already using this tool.
