Mobile Biometric Technologies (Baltimore County Police Department)

Michael Morisy
MuckRock
DEPT MR 20596
PO Box 55819
Boston, MA 02205-5819

Re: MPIA to the Baltimore County Police Department

Sent via electronic mail only

Mr. Morisy,
The Legal Section of the Baltimore County Police Department ("BCoPD") has received your request under the Maryland Public Information Act. The Baltimore County Police Department does not deploy mobile devices or a mobile app used to scan, capture, analyze, store, or automatically recognize the physical or biological characteristics of a person. Since BCoPD does not use these devices, the Department does not maintain any documents concerning purchasing, procurement, policies, procedures, training manuals, standard operating procedures, or information concerning audits of these devices.

You also requested answers to the following:

Total number of individuals whose biometric data has been collected...? 0

The total number of [biometric data points] contained in the agency’s database? 0
The retention period for biometric data? BCoPD does not retain biometric data from any mobile device/app
The number of mobile biometrics devices purchased and in use? 0
The total number of authorized users of the mobile biometrics devices? 0
Which external agencies and entities have access to biometric data in the database and under what conditions? None
Whether biometric data is combined with biographic data such as name and address in the database? No
The process by which data is entered into the database? BCoPD does not maintain a database of biometric data from any mobile device/app

Unless notified otherwise, the BCoPD will consider your request completed by this office.

Please note: This is not a denial letter under the Maryland Public Information Act

Thank you,

Shawn Vinson

Corporal Shawn Vinson
Special Asst. County Attorney
Legal Section
Baltimore County Police Department
700 E. Joppa Road
Towson, Maryland 21286

(410) 887-2211
(410) 887-4933 (fax)
svinson@baltimorecountymd.gov

**Confidentiality Statement**
This electronic mail transmission contains confidential information belonging to the sender which is legally privileged and confidential. The information is intended only for the use of the individual or entity named above. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution, or taking of any action based on the contents of this electronic mail transmission is strictly prohibited. If you have received this electronic mail transmission in error, please immediately notify Shawn Vinson at (410) 887-2211, and DELETE the message. Thank You.
>>> <requests@muckrock.com> 8/16/2015 11:06 PM >>>

August 16, 2015
Baltimore County Police Department
Public Safety Building
700 E. Joppa Road
Towson, Maryland 21286

Dear Custodian of Records/Public Records Coordinator,

I am collaborating with the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a public interest group, and the media organization MuckRock, to survey how law enforcement agencies deploy mobile biometric technologies.

Mobile biometric technologies can be defined as any mobile device or mobile app used by law enforcement agencies to scan, capture, analyze, store, or automatically recognize any physical or biological characteristic of a subject. Commonly used mobile biometric technologies include fingerprint/thumbprint collection, facial recognition, scans of the iris or other elements of the human eye, Rapid DNA, and tattoo recognition. (Please see below for examples.)

Pursuant to Maryland's Public Information Act ("PIA"), I request the following records pertaining to mobile biometric technologies, including those listed above, as well as other biometric technologies I have not identified:

1) Purchasing and procurement documents, including but not limited to: purchase orders, RFPs, responses to RFPs, invoices and contracts

2) Policy, procedural, and training documents, including but not limited to: use policies, standard operating procedures, training materials, presentations, privacy assessments, data retention policies, and other guidelines

3) Programming documents, including but not limited to: funding opportunity announcements, grant applications and grantor status/progress reports, reports to legislative bodies, annual reports

4) Audit documents, including but not limited to: audits of the system, misuse reports, and reports to oversight bodies

In your response, I would appreciate that you individually address each of the above categories of documents individually.

In addition to the above classes of documents, I am also seeking the following information:

- The total number of individuals whose biometric data has been collected over the last three years,
- The total number of [biometric data points] contained in the agency’s database
- The retention period for biometric data
- The number of mobile biometrics devices purchased and in use
- The total number of authorized users of the mobile biometrics devices
- Which external agencies and entities have access to biometric data in the database and under what conditions,
- Whether biometric data is combined with biographic data such as name and address in the database, and
- The process by which data is entered into the database

These documents will be published online and inform the public dialog over police technology. Because of the great public interest in these issues, I ask that you waive any fees. If your agency is unable to do so, please contact me with an estimate of the costs.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Michael Morisy

Examples:

Mobile facial recognition
http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/nov/08/cir-facial-recognition-software-san-diego/

Mobile fingerprint readers
http://www.policechiefmagazine.org/magazine/index.cfm?fuseaction=display_arch&article_id=1824&issue_id=62009

Mobile iris scanners
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/20/us-crime-identification-iris-idUSTRE76J4A120110720

Rapid DNA
http://www.policemag.com/channel/technology/articles/2014/02/speeding-up-dna-analysis.aspx

Mobile Tattoo Recognition
http://www.lawofficer.com/articles/print/volume-10/issue-4/features/new-smartphone-app-interprets.html

Filed via MuckRock.com
E-mail (Preferred): requests@muckrock.com

For mailed responses, please address (see note):
MuckRock
DEPT MR 20596
PO Box 55819
Boston, MA 02205-5819

PLEASE NOTE: This request was filed by a MuckRock staff reporter. Also note that improperly addressed (i.e., with the requester's name rather than "MuckRock News" and the department number) requests might be returned as undeliverable.

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Mr. Morisy,
As contained in your email chain, the response from the Baltimore County Police Department was sent to you on August 17, 2015. This was the complete response and no additional information has been found.

Thank you,
Shawn Vinson

Corporal Shawn Vinson
Special Asst. County Attorney
Legal Section
Baltimore County Police Department
700 E. Joppa Road
Towson, Maryland 21286

(410) 887-2211
(410) 887-4933 (fax)
svinson@baltimorecountymd.gov

**Confidentiality Statement**
This electronic mail transmission contains confidential information belonging to the sender which is legally privileged and confidential. The information is intended only for the use of the individual or entity named above. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution, or taking of any action based on the contents of this electronic mail transmission is strictly prohibited. If you have received this electronic mail transmission in error, please immediately notify Shawn Vinson at (410) 887-2211, and DELETE the message. Thank You.

>>> <requests@muckrock.com> 9/28/2015 5:00 AM >>>

September 28, 2015
Baltimore County Police Department
Public Safety Building
700 E. Joppa Road
Towson, Maryland 21286
This is a follow up to a previous request:
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Aug. 16, 2015. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
---
On Aug. 17, 2015:
Michael Morisy
MuckRock
DEPT MR 20596
PO Box 55819
Boston, MA 02205-5819
Re: MPIA to the Baltimore County Police Department
Sent via electronic mail only
Mr. Morisy,
The Legal Section of the Baltimore County Police Department ("BCoPD") has received your request under the Maryland Public Information Act. The Baltimore County Police Department does not deploy mobile devices or a mobile app used to scan, capture, analyze, store, or automatically recognize the physical or biological characteristics of a person. Since BCoPD does not use these devices, the Department does not maintain any documents concerning purchasing, procurement, policies, procedures, training manuals, standard operating procedures, or information concerning audits of these devices.
You also requested answers to the following:
Total number of individuals whose biometric data has been collected...? 0
The total number of [biometric data points] contained in the agency’s database? 0
The retention period for biometric data? BCoPD does not retain biometric data from any mobile device/app
The number of mobile biometrics devices purchased and in use? 0
The total number of authorized users of the mobile biometrics devices? 0
Which external agencies and entities have access to biometric data in the database and under what conditions? None
Whether biometric data is combined with biographic data such as name and address in the database? No
The process by which data is entered into the database? BCoPD does not maintain a database of biometric data from any mobile device/app
Unless notified otherwise, the BCoPD will consider your request completed by this office.
Please note: This is not a denial letter under the Maryland Public Information Act
Thank you,
Shawn Vinson
Corporal Shawn Vinson
Special Asst. County Attorney
Legal Section
Baltimore County Police Department
700 E. Joppa Road
Towson, Maryland 21286
(410) 887-2211
(410) 887-4933 (fax)
svinson@baltimorecountymd.gov
**Confidentiality Statement**
This electronic mail transmission contains confidential information belonging to the sender which is legally privileged and confidential. The information is intended only for the use of the individual or entity named above. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution, or taking of any action based on the contents of this electronic mail transmission is strictly prohibited. If you have received this electronic mail transmission in error, please immediately notify Shawn Vinson at (410) 887-2211, and DELETE the message. Thank You.
>>> <requests@muckrock.com> 8/16/2015 11:06 PM >>>
August 16, 2015
Baltimore County Police Department
Public Safety Building
700 E. Joppa Road
Towson, Maryland 21286
Dear Custodian of Records/Public Records Coordinator,
I am collaborating with the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a public interest group, and the media organization MuckRock, to survey how law enforcement agencies deploy mobile biometric technologies.
Mobile biometric technologies can be defined as any mobile device or mobile app used by law enforcement agencies to scan, capture, analyze, store, or automatically recognize any physical or biological characteristic of a subject. Commonly used mobile biometric technologies include fingerprint/thumbprint collection, facial recognition, scans of the iris or other elements of the human eye, Rapid DNA, and tattoo recognition. (Please see below for examples.)
Pursuant to Maryland's Public Information Act ("PIA"), I request the following records pertaining to mobile biometric technologies, including those listed above, as well as other biometric technologies I have not identified:
1) Purchasing and procurement documents, including but not limited to: purchase orders, RFPs, responses to RFPs, invoices and contracts
2) Policy, procedural, and training documents, including but not limited to: use policies, standard operating procedures, training materials, presentations, privacy assessments, data retention policies, and other guidelines
3) Programming documents, including but not limited to: funding opportunity announcements, grant applications and grantor status/progress reports, reports to legislative bodies, annual reports
4) Audit documents, including but not limited to: audits of the system, misuse reports, and reports to oversight bodies
In your response, I would appreciate that you individually address each of the above categories of documents individually.
In addition to the above classes of documents, I am also seeking the following information:
- The total number of individuals whose biometric data has been collected over the last three years,
- The total number of [biometric data points] contained in the agency’s database
- The retention period for biometric data
- The number of mobile biometrics devices purchased and in use
- The total number of authorized users of the mobile biometrics devices
- Which external agencies and entities have access to biometric data in the database and under what conditions,
- Whether biometric data is combined with biographic data such as name and address in the database, and
- The process by which data is entered into the database
These documents will be published online and inform the public dialog over police technology. Because of the great public interest in these issues, I ask that you waive any fees. If your agency is unable to do so, please contact me with an estimate of the costs.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Michael Morisy
Examples:
Mobile facial recognition
http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/nov/08/cir-facial-recognition-software-san-diego/
Mobile fingerprint readers
http://www.policechiefmagazine.org/magazine/index.cfm?fuseaction=display_arch&article_id=1824&issue_id=62009
Mobile iris scanners
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/20/us-crime-identification-iris-idUSTRE76J4A120110720
Rapid DNA
http://www.policemag.com/channel/technology/articles/2014/02/speeding-up-dna-analysis.aspx
Mobile Tattoo Recognition
http://www.lawofficer.com/articles/print/volume-10/issue-4/features/new-smartphone-app-interprets.html
Filed via MuckRock.com
E-mail (Preferred): requests@muckrock.com
For mailed responses, please address (see note):
MuckRock
DEPT MR 20596
PO Box 55819
Boston, MA 02205-5819
PLEASE NOTE: This request was filed by a MuckRock staff reporter. Also note that improperly addressed (i.e., with the requester's name rather than "MuckRock News" and the department number) requests might be returned as undeliverable.
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Connect with Baltimore County
[http://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/sebin/p/i/socialmedia_fb.jpg]<https://www.facebook.com/Baltimorecounty> [http://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/sebin/r/j/socialmedia_twitter.jpg] <https://twitter.com/BaltCoGov> [http://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/sebin/b/f/socialmedia_BC_NOW.jpg] <http://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/News/BaltimoreCountyNow> [http://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/sebin/r/z/socialmedia_youtube.jpg] <https://www.youtube.com/user/BaltimoreCounty> [http://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/sebin/z/z/socialmedia_camera.jpg] <https://www.flickr.com/photos/baltimorecounty> [http://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/sebin/d/o/socialmedia_linkedin.jpg] <https://www.linkedin.com/company/baltimore-county-government>
www.baltimorecountymd.gov<http://www.baltimorecountymd.gov>
---
On Aug. 16, 2015:
Dear Custodian of Records/Public Records Coordinator,
I am collaborating with the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a public interest group, and the media organization MuckRock, to survey how law enforcement agencies deploy mobile biometric technologies.
Mobile biometric technologies can be defined as any mobile device or mobile app used by law enforcement agencies to scan, capture, analyze, store, or automatically recognize any physical or biological characteristic of a subject. Commonly used mobile biometric technologies include fingerprint/thumbprint collection, facial recognition, scans of the iris or other elements of the human eye, Rapid DNA, and tattoo recognition. (Please see below for examples.)
Pursuant to Maryland's Public Information Act ("PIA"), I request the following records pertaining to mobile biometric technologies, including those listed above, as well as other biometric technologies I have not identified:
1) Purchasing and procurement documents, including but not limited to: purchase orders, RFPs, responses to RFPs, invoices and contracts
2) Policy, procedural, and training documents, including but not limited to: use policies, standard operating procedures, training materials, presentations, privacy assessments, data retention policies, and other guidelines
3) Programming documents, including but not limited to: funding opportunity announcements, grant applications and grantor status/progress reports, reports to legislative bodies, annual reports
4) Audit documents, including but not limited to: audits of the system, misuse reports, and reports to oversight bodies
In your response, I would appreciate that you individually address each of the above categories of documents individually.
In addition to the above classes of documents, I am also seeking the following information:
- The total number of individuals whose biometric data has been collected over the last three years,
- The total number of [biometric data points] contained in the agency’s database
- The retention period for biometric data
- The number of mobile biometrics devices purchased and in use
- The total number of authorized users of the mobile biometrics devices
- Which external agencies and entities have access to biometric data in the database and under what conditions,
- Whether biometric data is combined with biographic data such as name and address in the database, and
- The process by which data is entered into the database
These documents will be published online and inform the public dialog over police technology. Because of the great public interest in these issues, I ask that you waive any fees. If your agency is unable to do so, please contact me with an estimate of the costs.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Michael Morisy
Examples:
Mobile facial recognition
http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/nov/08/cir-facial-recognition-software-san-diego/
Mobile fingerprint readers
http://www.policechiefmagazine.org/magazine/index.cfm?fuseaction=display_arch&article_id=1824&issue_id=62009
Mobile iris scanners
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/20/us-crime-identification-iris-idUSTRE76J4A120110720
Rapid DNA
http://www.policemag.com/channel/technology/articles/2014/02/speeding-up-dna-analysis.aspx
Mobile Tattoo Recognition
http://www.lawofficer.com/articles/print/volume-10/issue-4/features/new-smartphone-app-interprets.html
Filed via MuckRock.com
E-mail (Preferred): requests@muckrock.com
For mailed responses, please address (see note):
MuckRock
DEPT MR 20596
PO Box 55819
Boston, MA 02205-5819
PLEASE NOTE: This request was filed by a MuckRock staff reporter. Also note that improperly addressed (i.e., with the requester's name rather than "MuckRock News" and the department number) requests might be returned as undeliverable.