System identifies sexual offenders

Barr Security of North Naples has an eye, a scanner and a list to identify sexual offenders on a national level.

Just ask Jennifer Boocock, the director of the Wonder Years Preschool at the First Presbyterian Church — the first school in Bonita Springs to catch a glimpse of the new technology.

Boocock got a first hand look at the new kiosk that was installed at her school by Barr Security as part of a visitor management system meant to stop sexual predators at the door.

“Our parents see safety as a priority and they ask us about it a lot so anything we can do to add an extra layer of security is a good thing,” said Boocock, who agreed to have the machine installed to supplement their current camera and keypad entry system.

The preschool was selected as a test site for the system because it gets enough traffic that Barr Security will be able to see the system work and test improved software. It is also close to Barr Security’s office on Tamiami Trail.

“This provides a level of security that you can’t beat. Even if you have a sexual offender list on the wall, it’s no good if you don’t look at it,” said Shaq Mughal, the owner of Barr Security.

Barr Security offers three models that screen visitors but its built in self-service feature allows visitors to check in without tying up office administrators.

“Visitors come in and check themselves in. I think people are more susceptible to self-service type technology and this lets them get in and get out,” said Mughal of the system that costs between $6,000 and $8,000.

Visitors are asked to use a touch-screen screen to put in their name, destination and scan a government issued ID before entering the school.

The system also asks for a fingerprint and a photo is taken of the visitor while the system scans the national database of registered sex offenders and a separate local watch list to ensure that the visitor is allowed on the premises.

The national database checks through more than 560,000 registered sex offenders in the United States.

“It automates the whole check-in process and runs background checks. Schools can even keep their own watch list or make notes based on parent requests or their own observations,” said Kristen Morse, the Barr Security vice president of marketing.

If a visitor were to be blocked from entry, the system alerts school personnel and they decide if security needs to be called.

“We just need to be sure about who our visitors are. The church will also be using the system when the preschool is closed,” said Boocock, who can have as many as 140 students at any one time.

Barr Security is talking to the Lee County school system about making their system a staple throughout the county, copmpany officials said. The Collier County school system has a similar visitor system.

“You can’t put a price on safety and schools know that,” Morse said.