The CHILD (Children’s Identification and Location Database) Project is a secure nationwide network and registry that enables law enforcement and social service agencies to locate and positively identify missing children and adults with iris biometric recognition technology.  Through this network, the CHILD Project will compare the unique features contained in the iris against a central repository of individuals who voluntarily enroll throughout the country to determine identity.  

Participation is entirely voluntary, just as it is now with fingerprint and photo ID card programs.    Once a person’s iris is scanned, their identity and demographic information is uploaded to a national register maintained by the National Missing Children’s Organization and Center for Missing Adults.

Photo: Worcester Telegram and Gazette

Today marks a tremendous step forward in our effort to ensure the safety and protection of children and senior citizens through Central Massachusetts,” Sheriff Glodis stated.  “This state-of-the-art technology will give an added level of assurance to families that, during an emergency, their loved one will be returned home safely.”

The Sheriff’s Office will be organizing iris scan outreach efforts through local Councils on Aging, schools, and at community fairs and events.  More specifically, Sheriff Glodis plans to utilize the successful growth of the Worcester County TRIAD program for senior citizens to encourage participation and boost enrollment in the registry.   

Iris recognition biometric technology positively determines the identity of an individual by capturing a high-resolution digital photograph of an individual’s iris.  The technology is non-intrusive, and can tell the difference between twins or even an individual’s right and left eye. An image of the iris is captured by simply looking into the camera.  The system was developed by Biometric Intelligence & Identification Technologies (BI² Technologies) of Plymouth, Massachusetts.  

“According to U.S. Department of Justice studies, on average, more than 2,000 children are reported missing every day across the nation and there are currently over 47,000 active missing adult cases,” said Sean Mullin, President of BI² Technologies, developers of the CHILD Project.  “We are pleased to team up with the Sheriff’s Office to provide a technology that can help reunite missing children and seniors with their families.”

With this official announcement, BI² Technologies will continue to identify other sheriffs’ offices that want to participate in the program and will work with them to secure funding for the system from state and federal agencies, and private sources.  

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