Sheriff lauds tech upgrades at Keogh-Dwyer facility

Newton - Sussex County Sheriff Robert Untig has announced that significant technical improvements have been made at the Keogh-Dwyer Correctional Facility thanks to grant monies received from a federal grant administered through the N.J. attorney general’s office and the N.J. Correctional Warden’s Association. According to Untig, the National Criminal History Improvement Grant Program enabled him to obtain a computerized system that allows all inmates to have their fingerprints scanned electronically and compared to national databases immediately upon admission to the facility. Previously, fingerprints were recorded manually and had to be mailed. Additionally, a second computerized system will instantaneously record inmate photographs and enter them into a statewide database. Officers at correctional facilities statewide will now be able to access photographs electronically and be able to utilize them for identification purposes. Previously, photographs were taken and stored in files, necessitating officers to conduct time-consuming searches for individual photos. “Both of these systems will greatly improve our effectiveness and efficiency,” said Untig. “It will also allow the sheriff’s office to provide enhanced services and to share information with other law enforcement agencies, not only in Sussex County, but nationwide.” The sheriff added that he is grateful for the support received from the attorney general’s office and from the warden’s association. He commended the members of his staff who he said were instrumental in implementing the new technology.