For Immediate Release
Contact: Kevin O'Reilly
February 9, 2004
508-224-1600 ext 318
The Nation's Missing Children Organization (NMCO) and The Point Group Companies, Inc. (TPG) announced today that they have entered into a teaming agreement to create and maintain a new, and first-of-its-kind, national database designed to identify and locate missing children and adults through the use of iris recognition technology.
The Children's Identification and Location Database (CHILD) Project is a nationwide network and registry, utilizing iris scanning cameras that will be available to law enforcement and social service agencies throughout the country. NMCO will operate and maintain the secured database at its Phoenix, Arizona headquarters. Through this network, the CHILD Project will compare the unique features contained in the iris against a database of individuals who enroll throughout the country to determine the identity of an individual. Complementing fingerprinting identification programs now in place, the CHILD Project will capture a digital photograph of the individual's iris, along with basic demographic information. Unlike existing fingerprint identification programs, the CHILD Project will create a national registry, securely maintained by NMCO, to give parents, law enforcement, and other authorized users of the system, access to data that can positively identify children in seconds.
Kym Pasqualini, President and CEO of the Nation's Missing Children Organization (NMCO) said, "This unique and innovative program will fill an important gap in our nation's ability to quickly, and positively, identify missing children and adults. It will complement the excellent work already done by thousands of organizations and concerned citizens across the country by creating a secure, national database of the most accurate biometric known today."
Ms. Pasqualini noted that millions of fingerprint ID cards have already been created for children and their parents or guardians. "However," she said, "The cards are only part of the solution to this serious problem. Theyare an excellent source of information for law enforcement and organizations like NMCO to help find missing children. Unfortunately, there is no database currently available to quickly verify the true identity of a missing child. This program fills that critical gap."
Iris recognition biometric technology positively determines the identity of an individual by capturing a high resolution digital photograph of the individual's iris. The technology is based on the most mathematically unique biometric -- even between twins or an individual's right and left eyes -- the iris of the eye. The technology is non-intrusive - the individual does not need to touch anything to use the system. Unlike other biometric technologies, there are no lasers, strong lights or any kind of harmful beams. By simply looking into the camera, an image of the iris is captured and placed in the national database. The iris recognition equipment is portable and simple to use, making it ideal for use at remote locations such as fairs and special events.
"The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children estimates that on average, more than 2,000 children are reported missing every day across the nation," said Sean Mullin, President of the Point Group. "We are pleased to team up with NMCO to provide a technology that can help reunite missing children with their families."
"Iris recognition technology will enhance the identification methods already in place by providing a quick and easy method of correctly and positively identifying an individual. Photographs work well up to a certain point," said Mr. Mullin. "As children grow their physical appearance changes. The iris never changes."
The CHILD Project will offer concerned agencies and organizations a low cost iris recognition system to use as part of their community outreach programs. The system will enable authorized users access to NMCO's database to both enroll individuals in the program and check them against the nationwide database. Participation is entirely voluntary, just as it is now with fingerprint and photo ID card programs.
Plans are also being developed to expand the database to include adults. "The adult population, particularly seniors with Alzheimer's disease, can also be better served through the implementation of this system," said Ms. Pasqualini. "In June 2002 NMCO created the Center for Missing Adults to address the lack of resources available to missing adults and their families. NMCO has been working with families nationwide to advocate for the establishment of the first national clearinghouse for missing adults. Including adults in the CHILD Project database will help in this endeavor."
The Nation's Missing Children Organization & Center for Missing Adults (NMCO) is a nonprofit agency providing nationwide assistance to law enforcement and families of missing persons. The agency, headquartered in Phoenix, AZ, was founded in 1994 by Kym Pasqualini who, at the age of eight, survived an attempted abduction by a knife wielding stranger. The group provides a variety of services including advocacy, search assistance, national distribution of information related to missing persons and various programs addressing child safety such as the child ID program.
The Point Group is a national technology consulting firm based in Plymouth, Massachusetts. The company's mission is to develop innovative and effective biometric-based information technologies that significantly improve public safety. The managing principals of The Point Group combine their experience in public service in areas as diverse as corrections, courts, public safety, legislation and information technology. The Point Group team has been involved in the successful implementation of iris recognition biometric technology with public safety agencies throughout the country.