Acoma Pueblo Deploys Precision’s Biometric Breathalyzer Kiosks

The Acoma Pueblo in New Mexico is now using the AB Kiosk from Precision Kiosk Technologies to make sure that members of the tribe are complying with any court-mandated alcohol restrictions. The Acoma Tribal Court currently screens as many as 25 individuals on a daily basis, and has installed the Kiosks at the Pueblo of Acoma Law Enforcement Center to automate those procedures.

Alcohol restrictions are a common requirement for those in the tribe’s criminal justice system, either as a condition for pre-trial release, or as part of a probation, extended supervision, or diversion program. Random breathalyzer screenings are conducted to ensure compliance, but doing so in person was time-consuming and expensive for law enforcement officers, and was also increasingly risky during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The AB Kiosk eliminates the need for those in-person appointments and reduces administrative costs for the Tribal Court. The standalone kiosk uses fingerprint recognition to verify the identities of those checking in, and captures still photos and video footage of the individual as they complete the breathalyzer test. It then uploads the results to a management system that can be accessed from a standard computer or mobile device.

“The AB Kiosk system automates our entire alcohol monitoring system and greatly reduces the time and expense of administering this program,” says Acoma Tribal Court Probation Officer Gwen Aragon. “The accessibility of the system also makes it easier for clients to meet the conditions of their release or sentencing with less disruption to their education, work, and family life. We believe we will increase the safety of our community by using this technology.”

The Acoma Pueblo is the first Native American tribe to implement the AB Kiosk solution, though the Kiosks have been deployed in Wisconsin’s Iowa County and at the state’s Lafayette and Waupaca Sherriff’s Offices. Precision has previously argued that the Kiosks can enable inmate tracking programs during the pandemic.

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September 24, 2020 – by Eric Weiss