FBI adds iris recognition to its growing biometrics portfolio

The FBI's Criminal Justice Information Services, nearly seven years after piloting the concept, will add iris recognition technology to its portfolio of identification services for law enforcement agencies. Kimberly Del Greco, the FBI's deputy assistant director for criminal justice information services, said the CJIS Advisory Policy Board and FBI Director Chris Wray recently approved the iris-recognition technology. Capturing iris images, Del Greco added, can be "easily integrated" into the existing biometric process using near-infrared cameras. All iris images added into the FBI's searchable iris image repository must be associated with fingerprints submitted as part of an arrest. The bureau launched its iris recognition pilot in 2013, according to a recent Government Accountability Office report, with the intention of helping criminal justice agencies quickly and accurately identify or confirm someone's identity. "An iris offers highly accurate, contactless and rapid biometric identification option for agencies.