OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE
FACIAL RECOGNITION SYSTEMS SUCCESSFUL AT COBB COUNTY ADULT DETENTION FACILITY
Marietta, GA�August 18, 2004--
On April 5, 2004, the Cobb County Sheriff�s Office deployed Facial Recognition technology to aid in the intake and release of prisoners at the Cobb County Adult Detention Center. In a partnership with AWT, Inc. of Atlanta, GA, a leading integrator of Facial Recognition Biometric Security Solutions, the Cobb County Sheriff�s Office (CCSO) has implemented a new strategy to help ensure the positive identification of prisoners entering and exiting its 1,925-bed detention facility.
Since the introduction of these products four months ago, over 12,000 inmates have been enrolled in the system. The 3D facial images and biometric information on the inmates have been amassed using the Geometrix, Inc. FaceVisionTM System. This makes Cobb County�s database one of the largest 3D facial databases in the country. Implementing this database makes Cobb County a leader among technologically advanced law enforcement agencies and has also spurred interest in facial recognition technology by surrounding law enforcement agencies.
During installation, the Cobb County Sheriff�s Office realized that for the system to be up-to-date and completely comprehensive, immediate enrollment of the currently incarcerated inmates was necessary; almost as if they were being booked in for the first time. Every one of these inmates� identities, as well as the identities of the new inmates that have been added over the past 4 months, were verified through the system prior to their being released from the Cobb County Adult Detention facility.
The jointly implemented and integrated AWT/Geometrix system has performed effectively each time an inmate was ready to be released. In the four months that the system has been in use, it has not mistaken the identity of the inmate in question nor allowed an inmate to be released under a false identity. While no system can be said to be totally foolproof, the Geometrix, Inc. FaceVisionTM facial recognition system has proved itself to be a valuable component for ensuring positive and accurate crosscheck and verification of identity. Sheriff Neil Warren commented that, � This is new technology that has truly proven its worth as a component in a process that ensures the correct inmate is being released from custody.�
AWT, Inc., along with their partner, Geometrix, Inc. (San Jose, CA), the 3D facial recognition product vendor, are confident that the success of the system at Cobb County will motivate other law enforcement agencies in Georgia, and the entire United States, to adopt 3D facial recognition technology. AWT founder and chairman, Lydia Kossman, stated, � The installation of the system at the Cobb County Adult Detention Center (CCADC) is a huge step forward for law enforcement, biometric security solutions, and the citizens of Cobb County. We are extremely pleased with the performance of the system and appreciate the opportunity to partner with the Cobb County Sheriff�s Office in this pioneering effort in the field of facial recognition biometrics.�
END
The Drudge Report does not own, operate or maintain DrudgeReportArchives.com and is not responsible for it in any way.