NCJ Number
214843
Journal
Law Enforcement Technology Volume: 33 Issue: 6 Dated: June 2006 Pages: 10,12-14,16,20
Date Published
June 2006
Length
9 pages
Annotation
This article describes different types of technology that can help find and identify missing children.
Abstract
Data from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children paint a grisly picture of child abductions, runaways, lost, injured, or otherwise missing children. In an effort to aid in the recovery and identification of missing children, companies such as Iridian Technologies Inc. are developing and marketing technologies to law enforcement and other organizations. Iridian Technologies Inc. has developed an iris recognition software that it sells to the CHILD Project, a biometric identification consulting and technology firm that in turn sells proprietary technologies to law enforcement agencies. The iris recognition software boasts a high level of accuracy (a 1.2 million chance of an individual being mistaken for someone else using the photograph of one eye) and continually improved ease of use. Thus far, the CHILD Project reports that the iris recognition systems have been installed in 21 sheriff’s departments in 12 States. Systems purchased through the CHILD Project cost around $25,000. It is expected that the iris recognition technology will be expanded to other uses, such as for use in identifying elderly populations and Alzheimer patients. Other types of identification technologies are also described, including First Impressions Inc.’s ChildPrint ID Kit, the ChildPrint ID Card, and Safe Shoes Child ID. The Kit contains an area to store medical information, medical records, and a DNA sample. The Safe Shoes Child ID is a label that affixes to the inside of a child’s shoe and contains parent’s names and phone numbers in a non-visible location. Toothprint technology is similarly described, as is the latest fingerprinting techniques, which involve digital technology that can be loaded onto any Windows program. The article contains a textbox on keeping children safe while they are online. Exhibits