Voice Biometrics Goes to Prison

One of the more unusual applications of voice biometrics is the identification of prison inmates when they make a call. Correctional institutions are required to track all calls made by inmates to prevent and apprehend illegal activity. In most cases, inmates are assigned a calling PIN which they are required to use when they make calls. Some inmates “share” their PIN (voluntarily or involuntarily) with other inmates making it near impossible to accurately track who actually made the call.

Voice biometrics is able to ensure that the inmate making the call is who they say they are. When the inmate first arrives at prison, they provide a base voiceprint. Each time they make a call, their sample voiceprint is compared to their base voiceprint. If they match, the inmate is able to complete their call. Another benefit is the elimination "PIN sharing" -- which increases prison safety.