The Tribune

By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

NEW biometric technology allowing suspects to comply with their bail conditions using just their fingerprints is set to be embraced by the justice system, replacing the archaic paper-based registration, Attorney General Allyson Maynard-Gibson announced yesterday.

The pilot programme will begin officially within the next 30 days.

The system is expected to cut down on breaches of bail conditions by digitally tracking information.

It will do a better job than the current system of preventing suretors from signing for bail for more than one person, for instance, and it will prevent people from signing registers at police stations in the place of suspects.

The Bahamian firm, Multimedia Technologies, will manage the system. It has already begun the process of procuring the necessary software and hardware.

Representatives of the company yesterday demonstrated how the new system will work, highlighting its speed and ease-of-use.

“Today we are making a quantum leap in that we are moving away from a situation where people had to sign in using a pen,” Mrs Maynard Gibson said. “As a part of their condition on bail, this led to problems including that if someone was unable to produce their driver’s licence or some form of identification they couldn’t sign in.

“The company will be able to track everything in relation to bail, from applications to regular sign-ins, reports and to monitoring whether a suretor signed for someone previously. This will support the enforcement of existing laws. It will ensure that in actuality and perception the door on bail will be shut.”

Mrs Maynard-Gibson also revealed statistics yesterday showing a downward trend over the past three years in the number of people applying for bail, a fact she attributes to greater efficiency in the judicial system.

There were 1,109 bail applications in 2014; 963 in 2015 and 888 in 2016, she said.

For those accused of murder last year, 2.36 per cent of bail applications were granted.

For those accused of attempted murder, manslaughter, abetment, causing harm and similar crimes against the person, eight per cent of applications were granted in 2016.

Among people accused of armed robbery and similar crimes against the person, 5.52 per cent of applications were granted and among those accused of unlawful sexual intercourse and incest, 2.03 per cent of applications were granted last year.

During the pilot stage of the new bail management programme, kiosks will be available in some police stations, including Central Police Station, Mrs Maynard-Gibson said.

When suspects report to stations to sign in with their fingerprints, their photographs will simultaneously be taken by the machine.

If suspects do not adhere to the bail conditions set by courts, the new system will be prompted to send an alert to police, prosecution and to suretors.

In the event of a disaster, the system will switch over to the Royal Bahamas Police Force’s (RBPF) disaster recovery site in Freeport.