Media Center | Biometrics for Government and Law Enforcement

Learn who you could meet for December's event>>

While the average person is accustomed to using biometric technologies in airports, banks, and hospitals and to access their smartphones, one place we rarely think of needing biometric identification solutions is in correctional institutions. However, as biometrics have become more widely used in our everyday lives, they are also becoming a key resource to the US carceral system.

Whether as a resource to monitor prisoner and staff activities, assist release procedures, identify visitors, or improve inmate health and wellness, biometrics are used in correctional facilities. This report will look at each of those uses, analyze the latest news in correctional biometrics, and assess how biometrics are beginning to have an impact on inmate safety.

If you’re interested in hearing from state and local-level corrections departments, be sure to register for Biometrics in Government & Law Enforcement this December 10- 11 in Washington, DC. This event will feature speakers such as Chief Kristen Varady of the Virginia Department of Corrections, Sheriff Patrick Labat of the Fulton County Sheriff’s Department, and Sheriff Jose Quiroz of the Arlington County Sherrif Department, as well as representatives from the FBI, DoD, TSA, and many other federal and state agencies. The two-day event will provide attendees with ground-breaking and informative content on the latest technological developments as well as overviews of the key challenges and initiatives government and law enforcement agencies are facing.

Biometrics are measurable biological and behavioral characteristics that can be used for automated recognition. In the fields of law enforcement, border security, and anti-terrorism, biometrics resources have become must-have tools.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) states the core uses of biometrics are for identity assurance, meaning the ability to verify an individual’s identity for the US government, and quality of life and security, meaning protecting US citizen's personal identities and safety. In this article, we will explore the organizations within DHS overseeing biometrics tools to deliver on these core uses. Those organizations include:

• Office of Biometric Identity Management (OBIM)
• Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
• Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
• US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
• Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

For more on how the US is leveraging biometrics in law enforcement, be sure to register for the Biometrics in Government and Law Enforcement Summit this December 10-11 in Reston, VA This two-day event will provide attendees with groundbreaking and informative content on the latest technology developments as well as overviews of the key challenges and initiatives government and law enforcement agencies are facing.

Biometric technologies have entered the age of implementation for law enforcement agencies, correctional facilities, and airports across the world. While these ground- breaking technologies can help catch criminals and prevent terrorism attacks, biometric solutions still have many unsolved questions.

One of which is how international entities plan to collaborate and share the biometric information they collect. For Dr. Brian Plastow and Tony Eastaugh, this is a question they are already beginning to address. Dr. Plastow is the Scottish Biometrics Commissioner while Eastaugh serves as the Biometrics & Surveillance Camera Commissioner for the UK Home Office. In their respective roles both men are constantly communicating and collaborating with other biometrics leaders across the UK.

From December 10-11, Dr. Plastow and Eastaugh will be in Washington DC for the Biometrics for Government and Law Enforcement Summit where they will present on the importance of international collaboration. Before the event, IDGA sat down with the two speakers to discuss that very topic, as well as:

• Ethical uses of biometrics
• The short-term future of biometrics in the UK
• What Dr. Plastow and Eastaugh hope attendees gain from attending the Biometrics for Government and Law Enforcement Summit

Watch Matt Gilkeson of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and Evan Bays of IDEMIA as they discuss how to bring security and transparency to the AI used in biometric algorithms.

The White House Executive Order for New Standards for AI Safety and Security and the Department of Homeland Security’s IT Strategic Plan includes the actions to ensure AI systems are safe, secure, and trustworthy, used responsibly, and address algorithmic discrimination. In this webinar, speakers will delve into the development and training of biometric matching algorithms and steps you can take to mitigate bias. The impact of bias includes false matching to another person and denial of access to services, and places an undue burden on the individual to overcome the obstacles they encounter due to this gap in the AI-enabled technology.

By watching the webinar you'll gain the following:

• An overview of DHS and IDEMIA's commitment to developing fair and ethical technologies
• Case studies sharing real-world improvements to AI algorithms
• An understanding of AI security and regulatory requirements
  

Biometrics is increasingly becoming a cornerstone of national security. For example, in 2017, President Donald Trump signed an executive order requiring that the top 20 U.S. airports use biometric technology and facial recognition by 2021 for all international passengers. Earlier this year, he signed the National Strategy to Combat Terrorism Travel, which calls for the increased use of biometric technology and data to stop terrorists from entering the U.S.

Ahead of the 14th Annual Biometrics for Government and Law Enforcement Summit, taking place February 26 - 28, 2020 in Washington D.C., we created a breakdown of how federal agencies such DHS, DoS, Dod, and DoJ are leveraging biometrics & identity management solutions to enhance national security. Get an overview of how much the government is spending and how these investments align with greater strategic goals

Presentation by Lee Bowes, Deputy Associate Director Immigration Records & Identity Services (IRIS) Directorate, U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Service:

• Identity information verification and integration across missions
• Deploying person-centric services and utilizing the digital environment
• Opportunities and complexities of identity management in government

Presentation by Chris Centamore, Program Director, IDEMIA:

• Why adding biometrics to your facility security solution is so important.
• How to choose the best biometric security solutions for your facility.
• How a comprehensive facility security solution can safeguard both security and privacy.

View the slides for our industry lead panel that explored:

• Commercial success and lessons learned
• What are industry leaders developing and how can it be leveraged to support national security efforts?
• Developing identity enterprises to enhance throughput and deliver actionable intelligence

Graham Crouch, Senior Identity Intelligence (I2) Tradecraft and Integration Advisor, Integral

Marios Savvides, Professor in Artificial IntelligenceDirector of CMU CyLab Biometrics Center, Electrical & Computer Eng and CyLab

Benji Hutchinson, Vice President, Federal Operations, NEC Corporation of America

Presentation by Monte Hawkins, Director of the National Vetting Center, U.S. Customs and Border Protection:

• Approaches to working with the IC community to support NVC’s operations
• Plans for expansion of vetting and enabling advanced analytics capabilities

Presentation by Colonel Donald Hurst, Project Manager DoD Biometrics, U.S. Department of Defense: 

• Future plans on identity management and information sharing to support security operations
• Streamlining response and proving identity resolution
• Supporting decision-makers with actionable intelligence

Presentation by Brendan F. Klare, Ph.D., Co-Founder and CEO, Rank One Computing:

• What you should consider when evaluating licensing, technology and ease of integration when procuring modern algorithms
• How modern face recognition capabilities impact forensic and security use cases

Presentation by Kevin O’Leary, Idemia & Technical Advisor, AAMVA FR Working Group: 

• Update on the use of biometrics applications and facial recognition in DMV’s
• Case studies on identity fraud
• Addressing the privacy concerns

Presentation by Geoff Slagle, Director of Identity Management, AAMVA:

• mDL Background & Status
• Use cases
• AAMVA mDL Guidelines
  

Presentation by John P. Stanley, PM DoD Biometrics, Strategic Planner, PEO IEW&S:

• Implementing the road map to enhance operational identities capabilities
• Understanding the processes and timeline
• How innovation can enhance mission outcomes