NCJ Number
238524
Date Published
March 2011
Length
50 pages
Annotation
This study examined the extent to which the Department of Defense (DOD) has adopted standards and taken action to facilitate the collection of biometrics that are interoperable with other key Federal agencies, as well as whether DOD shares biometric information across key Federal agencies.
Abstract
The study found that DOD has adopted a standard for the collection of biometric information that facilitates sharing of that information with other Federal agencies. DOD has been guided in this effort by adherence to internationally accepted biometric standards. DOD applied adopted standards to some but not all of its collection devices; specifically, a collection device used primarily by the Army does not meet DOD adopted standards. Consequently, DOD is unable to transmit biometric information to Federal agencies. DOD is sharing its biometric information and has an agreement to share biometric information with the Department of Justice, which allows for direct connectivity and the automated sharing of biometric information between their biometric systems; however, DOD's ability to optimize sharing is limited by not having a finalized sharing agreement with the Department of Homeland Security, as well as its capacity to process biometric information. In order to improve DOD's ability to collect and share information, the General Accountability Office recommends that DOD implement processes for updating and testing biometric collection devices to adopted standards; fully define and clarify the roles and responsibilities for all biometric stakeholders; finalize an agreement with the Department of Homeland Security; and identify its long-term biometric system capability needs. DOD agreed with all of GAO's recommendations. Appended scope and methodology, funding for DOD's biometric program, and comments from the DOD