FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. — The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office has something new in their toolbox at the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility.

It’s called the Inmate Recognition and Identification System, also known as I.R.I.S.

This technology can capture more than 265 characteristics of the human eye.

What You Need To Know

  • The Flagler County Sheriff's Office is implementing new inmate identification technology
  • Called Inmate Recognition and Identification System, the technology can capture more than 265 characteristics of the human eye
  • According to the Sheriff's Office, the technology is significantly more accurate than other identification methods such as fingerprinting, facial recognition, and palm scanning
  • This technology was made possible through a partnership between the National Sheriffs’ Association and BI2 technologies

This allows the Sheriff’s office to stay ahead of the inmate to make sure when they’re booked, they are who they say they are.

“I enjoy working here, I like working in this environment,” said FCSO Cmdr. Louis Miceli, who has been working for the department for 22 years.

“I like working with the inmates and serving our community and making sure that when the inmates get released into the community, that it’s a safe and controlled environment,” Miceli added. 

Miceli watches over much of what’s done at the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility, and said the I.R.I.S. system has changed how they do things.

“We have each inmate when they come in. They look into this, we call binoculars. What will happen is it will take a picture of the iris,” he said. 

The overall process in which a photo is taken happens quickly.

Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly said the technology is integrated with a national database, meaning other law enforcement agencies can tap into any information they need.

“We have to stay ahead of the criminal," Staly said. "Many times, criminals and inmates will try to give you a false name. They can’t trade their eyeballs. So, it helps us make sure that the right person is released from custody at the appropriate time."

Sheriff's Office officials say I.R.I.S. is significantly more accurate than other identification methods like as fingerprinting, facial recognition, and palm scanning.

Staly said he is looking forward to seeing how this technology will benefit the department.

“Now it’s added a little extra work, because we’re still doing fingerprints and doing now, the I.R.IS.," he said. "But eventually, I suspect the fingerprints will go away."

Staly said he hopes the I.R.I.S. technology will one day help his deputies out in the field.

This technology was made possible through a partnership between the National Sheriffs' Association and BI2 technologies.

The equipment was provided to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office at no cost to taxpayers.