Bolster Police-Community Engagement with ShotSpotter and Data for Good

When law enforcement and communities work together, public safety improves for everyone. Yet too often, the data needed to guide outreach and violence-prevention efforts never reach those best positioned to make a difference.

The Challenge

Up to 80% of gunfire incidents go unreported to 9-1-1. That means in eight out of ten cases, police never know a shooting occurred, leaving communities vulnerable and preventing timely outreach to those affected. When violence goes unreported, trauma compounds, and opportunities for intervention are lost.

By closing this visibility gap, cities can better coordinate prevention, trauma response, and community resources, strengthening trust between law enforcement and residents while helping to stop the cycle of violence before it repeats.

Our Mission: Turning Data into Action

SoundThinking’s Data for Good program allows agencies to securely share gunfire and crime data with CVI groups, public health departments, and local nonprofits. This information shows where gunfire and potential trauma are occurring, so the right resources can be deployed quickly — offering both immediate relief and long-term support.

Our mission is to reduce crime by working with community advocates, city agencies, and public health professionals. Together, we turn data into action that strengthens neighborhood safety and fosters collaboration across sectors.

Community Engagement Events: Data for Good in Practice

SoundThinking’s Data for Good program doesn’t stop at data sharing — it’s about being present in the community. Across the U.S., we participate in neighborhood meetings, resource fairs, and collaborative outreach events that bring residents and law enforcement together.

Here are examples of cities we partner with through our Data for Good program:

Walking One Stop – Miami-Dade County, FL

In Miami-Dade County, SoundThinking partners with Walking One Stop to provide gunfire data that help identify neighborhoods most affected by gun and gang violence. Between 2018 and 2020, the initiative delivered nearly 3,000 service referrals, most within a week of initial contact. More than 20 elected officials, researchers, and advocates have joined community walks to hear directly from families about the support and policies they need.

Community Connect — Springfield, IL

Springfield uses ShotSpotter data to identify locations for its Community Connect meetings, events designed to deliver social, health, and economic resources directly to residents who need them most.

San Francisco, CA

SoundThinking’s Data for Good program helps the San Francisco Police Department and its civic partners convene community roundtables, share dashboard insights, and organize neighborhood ride-alongs. Through monthly meetings with clergy, violence intervention groups, and local businesses, the team utilizes real gunfire data to inform outreach and prevention efforts.

Miami-Dade, FL and Bladensburg, MD

By showing up and participating in community events, we can share information about the services SoundThinking provides. This includes how they work, their impact on neighborhoods, and where their limits lie. Most importantly, we highlight the value these services bring to communities and the lives they help save.

Stronger Together

SoundThinking believes that every data point represents a person, a chance to respond, connect, and prevent future harm. By combining real-time technology with on-the-ground partnerships, the Data for Good program is redefining what community engagement looks like in public safety, helping law enforcement and community organizations build the trust, transparency, and collaboration needed for safer neighborhoods nationwide.