In Pennsylvania, authorized law enforcement can access the state?s Justice Network (JNET) to access critical information for investigations. The JNET Facial Recognition System allows about 500 of JNET?s 40,000 users ? individuals from local, state and federal law enforcement ? to narrow down a search for a suspect by comparing images from sources like surveillance footage and social media sites against a statewide criminal database containing 3.5 million photos, according to JNET officials.

But since JNET?s Facial Recognition System could only compare photos against images of previously arrested or convicted criminals listed in the statewide database, JNET needed a new method for finding suspects unknown to law enforcement. To broaden its image comparison capabilities, in May, JNET?s facial recognition technology was integrated with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT)?s facial recognition system. PennDOT stores 36 million driver?s license and identification photo images in a photo repository.

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