'Raptor' Prevents School Predators

HOUSTON - Visitors to all public and many private schools in the Houston area will have to provide state-issued identification -- no exceptions.

Someone from the school will scan a visitor's drivers license or identification card through a machine that will verify whether or not he or she is a registered sex offenders.

If someone is a registered sex offender, a screen will pop up on the computer to notify the receptionist and the company that monitors the system.

The company then verifies if that information is accurate. If it is, campus police will be notified.

The technology was developed by Allan Measom, president of Raptor Technologies, Inc. He originally developed the technology in Houston for Enron Corp. after the September 11 terrorist attacks.

Meacom says the system is less invasive and more targeted than most people might think. The system is in almost 3,700 Texas schools and 7,000 campuses nationwide.

During the last school year, the technology detected approximately 2,200 sex offenders trying to enter schools.

On the Web:

Raptor Technologies, Inc. -- http://www.raptorware.com/default.aspx