SA Government delays prison biometrics rollout

Biometrics housing to be built in Adelaide

Plans by the South Australian Government to roll out biometrics at a number of prisons acrosss the state have been delayed due to required construction work.

Plans for the trial were announced in May. Pending a successful trial, it will be rolled out to sites including Yatala Labour Prison, Adelaide Women’s Prison, Mobilong Prison , Port Augusta Prison, Mt Gambier Prison, Cadell Training Centre, and Port Lincoln Prison.

A Department for Correctional Services (DCS) spokesperson said that in order to house the new equipment, the Adelaide facility requires some building work to be undertaken.

“Plans are currently being considered by the relevant development authority," the spokesperson told Computerworld Australia. The timing of completion of the works will depend on the development application outcome, among other things.”

He said it is currently in the process of evaluating tender responses.

“The system can be interfaced to other prisons if DCS wishes to do so in the future. No decisions have been made at this stage,” the spokesperson said.

Department documents state the system will be networked with other State correctional facilities and all data taken by the biometric scanners will be encrypted and stored for at least twenty five years.

DCS expects to gain greater access control, more access auditing and a greater level of visitor scrutiny following the trial.

The spokesperson said that a decision has not yet been made on if the system will include an iris scanner and fingerprint scanner.

“Other goverment departments are awaiting the outcome of the DCS tender,” he said.

The spokesperson added that DCS has completed tenders for baggage X-ray, access controlled metal detectors, CCTV systems at some prison sites.

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