Memphis, Tennessee
Project Overview
The Memphis, TN SPI project addressed gun violence through the implementation and evaluation of a gunshot detection system by the name of ShotSpotter. The Memphis Police Department (MPD) worked closely with research partners from the University of Memphis to assess the impact of ShotSpotter on the time of response, calls for services (CFS), evidence recovered (such as casings and firearms), arrests and National Integrate Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) hits.
Methods and Findings
Research Design
Researchers wanted to evaluate the effectiveness of ShotSpotter’s technology in comparison to currently implemented strategies. To do so, researchers collected and evaluated data on cases where (1) ShotSpotter was the only basis for the call, (2) cases where ShotSpotter did not detect, and the response is only a call for service (CFS) and (3) ShotSpotter and a CFS both occurred for the incident. Additionally, researchers collected data on the number of shooting reports resulting from ShotSpotter versus that didn’t come from ShotSpotter, time to response (ShotSpotter vs non-ShotSpotter) and lastly, the number of National Integrate Ballistic Information Network hits were collected as a result of ShotSpotter. Data was gathered from 16 months prior to the implementation of ShotSpotter and compared to data collected 16 months post implementation.
Findings
- The implementation of ShotSpotter significantly increased the number of NIBIN hits.
- ShotSpotter was often instantaneous, alerting agencies of a gunshot within seconds.
- Implementation of ShotSpotter and gunshot detection technology highlights the number of shots fired that do not get reported to police.
