- February 21, 2025
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office is implementing new technology at the county jail that will allow for inmates to be identified through their eyes.
The Inmate Recognition and Identification System, known as IRIS, is designed to enhance public safety and ensure the identification of individuals booked into the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility, according to a press release. IRIS uses advanced biometric technology to capture over 265 characteristics of the human eye, creating a template the FCSO reports is more accurate than fingerprinting, facial recognition and palm scanning. The accuracy would ensure offenders can't use false names, birthdates, aliases or other methods to hide their identity from law enforcement.
“The implementation of IRIS aligns with our commitment to using the best available tools to apprehend criminals,” Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly said in the press release. “We believe this system will be an invaluable resource in our efforts to identify criminals who may provide a false name. This technology is the ‘new fingerprint technology’ and is already being used by the FBI. Dirtbags be aware. We have another tool to identify you and capture you!”
IRIS is integrated with a national database, allowing for the FCSO to share information with other law enforcement agencies throughout the U.S. IRIS is available through an innovative partnership between the National Sheriffs’ Association and BI2 Technologies. The equipment was provided to FCSO at no cost to taxpayers, the press release states.
