Rapid ID biometrics deployed in Florida

Washington-based Sagem Morpho says its biometric technologies deployment by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement marks a milestone for the company. Officials say the Florida Department of Law Enforcement's incorporation of Sagem Morpho's Rapid ID fingerprint identification system marks the first public safety organization in the United States with statewide biometrics use for remote rapid identification. Company officials say the system provides the officers with identification in less than 15 seconds of individuals with criminal records. "The Rapid ID system has already proven to be of significant value to our partner criminal justice agencies," Penny Kincannon, Florida Department of Law Enforcement chief information officer, said in a statement. "We plan to expand this technology statewide to other venues such as patrol vehicles for roadside stops, jails for inmate entry and release, and courtrooms to confirm if DNA already exists on file for a convicted felon." Officials say the use of biometrics in Florida is part of the state's Falcon integrated criminal history system. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement says as many as 15,000 edge devices could be deployed by the state before the end of 2008.