For Immediate Release

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Marshals Service is providing the following information as clarification to recent national media stories about body scanners at security check points that have contained inaccurate information. 

It is important to note the U.S. Marshals Service and the Transportation Security Administration are two separate government agencies, working under two separate government departments.  The U.S. Marshals Service is with the Department of Justice and the TSA is with the Department of Homeland Security.  Neither agency can speak for the other. 

With regard to the body scanner in use at the Orlando federal courthouse: 

Since late 2007, the U.S. Marshals Service has used, on a trial basis, the Gen 2 system, manufactured by Brijot Systems, to screen individuals entering the federal courthouse in Orlando, Fla.  The U.S. Marshals Service also tested, for approximately 90 days in 2007-2008, the System 350, manufactured by Millivision Technologies, at the federal courthouse in the District of Columbia.  No individuals were screened during the test period.

The Brijot machine in use in Orlando uses a passive millimeter wave system.  During the screening process, it captures two images.  One is a standard photographic image, similar to that captured by a regular security camera.  The other is a millimeter wave scan image.

The millimeter wave scan images captured by the Brijot machine in Orlando can in no way be described as images of “naked” or “undressed” people.  Rather, they are pixilated, chalky and blurred images. 

The USMS has not received any complaints regarding the use of this technology in either the District of Columbia or Orlando.

The Gen 2 System automatically stores images to a hard drive.  However, the images are not accessible without an administrative password and were never accessed until the EPIC FOIA request was received.  Court Security Officers do have the capability to access the previous two or three scans if needed.

Here’s a link to a photo of what the Gen 2 scans look like: http://www.brijot.com/products/gen2/index.php

As one can easily see, the scanned images do not reveal anatomical details. One cannot cannot tell if the subject is male or female.  Privacy is protected while safely and effectively detecting potential threats and contraband. 

Additional information about the U.S. Marshals can be found at http://www.usmarshals.gov.