New Technology Aims to Keep Child Predators Out of Schools

Raleigh, N.C. — Student safety is top concern at Joyner Elementary School in Raleigh.

"We can't guarantee it when they leave here, but we can certainly guarantee when they are here," said assistant principal Sabra Green.

That’s the reason that Joyner Elementary and other schools are investing in new state-of-the-art technology. Now, each visitor must sign in at a kiosk once they enter the school.

"It guarantees that we know who is coming through that front door," said Green.

The system takes a picture of every visitor. Then, each person is required to scan their driver’s license. The information is instantly compared to a national database of more than 500,000 registered sex offenders.

“We are constantly, 24 hours a day, running our software to keep our databases up to date," said Kevin Allen, president of the Raleigh-based company LobbyGuard, who are making the kiosks.

Allen said when a registered sex offender is entered into the system, the computer prints out a void sticker instead of a visitor badge. The administration is immediately notified with an e-mail or text message.

The system also allows the administrator to verify the person is a registered offender by comparing the visitor's picture with the picture of the sex offender.

All of the information the system provides can be found free of charge online, but LobbyGuard officials said the information can't be found on demand. There is a national database available here , but you must enter specific zip codes.

http://www.nsopr.gov/

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Latest Comments

I didn't know there was such a problem with sexual predators abducting children from schools. Sounds to me like a parental pacifier, designed to provide the illusion of security.

mohnkae
February 15, 2007 11:32 p.m.

Great idea.....

deerslayer
February 15, 2007 6:53 p.m.

Every day i go to work to get into the door i use a proximity card that allows me to enter the door hassle free. parents and students could be provided a similar device easily enough. This article refers to "Visitors" To me this would mean people who in normal day to day school activities would not have access to the school grounds.(repairmen, delivery drivers....) Parents and students/teachers would not need to swipe every day once entered into the system i am sure.

Newshound
February 15, 2007 6:16 p.m.

Definately need to do something about those freaks, but it just reminds me of some old World War II movie where the Nazi SS asks people in transit for their "Papers" ("Your Papers Please" -in heavy German accent) ...this place is starting look more and more like some kind of Nazi regime controlling everyone.

regularguy_nc-at-yahoo.com
February 15, 2007 6:15 p.m.

If there's a special program where lots of parents have to attend, do they all have to stand in line and get checked first? If, God forbid, another crazed "student" starts killing inside, does law enforcement have to get checked first? What about kids being picked up after school? If there's a medical emergency, does EMS have to get checked first? I think that it's good if someone is allowed to go past the office, but other than that, it sounds a bit excessive.

jmr
February 15, 2007 5:50 p.m.