The newly released updated results from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, on the deployment of ShotSpotter technology showed a significantly improved police response to gun-related crimes. ShotSpotter’s acoustic gunshot detection system led to faster dispatch times, improved evidence collection, and reduced violent crimes such as homicides and aggravated assaults by 24%. With over 3,500 alerts analyzed, 43% yielded distinct evidence of gunfire, leading to the recovery of 3,476 shell casings and several arrests. The cost-benefit analysis highlighted that ShotSpotter generated substantial savings for the community, estimated between $8.4 to $8.7 million annually, making it a valuable law enforcement tool.
Dennis Mares and Andrew Buettner’s report with the Center for Crime Science and Violence Prevention at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville examined data from the system’s deployment from August 2021 through January 2024. The ShotSpotter system proved effective at uncovering unreported gunfire incidents, decreasing reliance on public calls, and increasing the likelihood of arrests due to better investigative leads. The research emphasized that while not all gunfire leads to arrests, ShotSpotter data plays a crucial role in reducing the underreporting of gun violence.
Gunshot Detection System
ShotSpotter, by SoundThinking, is a gunshot detection system that uses acoustic sensors to identify, locate, and notify law enforcement of gunfire in real time. It helps police respond faster and more accurately by pinpointing the location of gunfire incidents within seconds. Providing the location of gunfire also aids in evidence location and even firearm recovery. ShotSpotter is designed to alert police dispatchers or officers directly through mobile devices, providing data on the location, number of shots fired, and the exact time of the shots, and including helpful safety information such as noting automatic gunfire or multiple shooters.
The goal of ShotSpotter’s gunshot detection system is to improve public safety through faster response times, increasing the likelihood of evidence collection arrests, building solid investigations, and, most importantly, saving the lives of gunshot victims. Studies show over 80% of gunfire incidents are unreported by community members, making ShotSpotter an invaluable tool in law enforcement – especially in areas with high gun violence. Over time, the ShotSpotter deployment alerts police to incidents they might otherwise miss, potentially saving lives and reducing gun-related crime.
Impact on Police Response Times
One of the most immediate benefits of ShotSpotter’s deployment in Winston-Salem has been the improvement in police response times. The system allows officers to respond to gunfire calls nearly two minutes faster than resident-reported incidents, which is significant in time-sensitive situations like shootings. The faster dispatch times help police arrive at crime scenes more quickly, which increases the likelihood of securing evidence and catching suspects.
Not only did response times improve, but officers also spent more time investigating ShotSpotter alerts than calls made by the public. On average, police spent about 24.6 minutes investigating ShotSpotter incidents, compared to only 17.1 minutes for traditional calls. This extended time on the scene can be attributed to the precision of ShotSpotter alerts, which allow officers to focus their efforts more effectively and recover evidence such as shell casings vital for investigations.
Evidence Collection and Arrests
The updated report shows that ShotSpotter significantly improves police’s ability to collect critical evidence at crime scenes. In Winston-Salem, ShotSpotter alerts resulted in the recovery of 3,476 shell casings, nearly matching the number recovered citywide from resident-reported incidents. Of the ShotSpotter alerts, 1,372 incidents yielded gun crime evidence, including firearms recovered in 139 cases, representing a 3.7% recovery rate.
The findings also found the gunshot detection system led to increased arrests. Of the 3,657 alerts with complete data, 2.3% resulted in at least one arrest, translating to 102 total arrests linked to 83 different alerts. This demonstrates how ShotSpotter helps police respond faster and gather the evidence to build stronger cases. And improved evidence collection increases the likelihood of solving gun-related crimes and bringing offenders to justice.
Reduction in Violent Crimes
According to the 2024 report, the deployment of the technology led to a 24% reduction in aggravated assaults and homicides in the targeted area. This reduction translates to around 87 fewer assaults annually compared to what would be expected without ShotSpotter. These reductions are especially notable in areas of the city without ShotSpotter coverage.
In contrast to the ShotSpotter-covered zones, where violent crime decreased, other parts of Winston-Salem saw no significant change or experienced slight increases in crime rates. This data highlights the importance of strategic deployment in high-crime areas and suggests that gunshot detection could be effective in other regions facing similar challenges.
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Cost-Benefit Analysis
One of the most striking findings in the Winston-Salem ShotSpotter report is its solid financial return on investment. The system costs the city approximately $205,000 annually, but reducing violent crimes—particularly aggravated assaults—creates savings estimated between $8.4 million and $8.7 million annually. This results in a $26 return for every dollar spent, making ShotSpotter an extremely cost-effective solution for reducing gun violence.
These savings come from various factors, including fewer assaults requiring medical care, a reduction in the costs associated with criminal justice processing, and lower long-term societal costs related to gun violence. Moreover, quicker medical interventions made possible by faster police responses can potentially prevent serious injuries or deaths, further amplifying the financial and societal benefits of one more life saved.
Challenges and Limitations
While the Winston-Salem deployment of ShotSpotter has produced positive results, the report shared some limitations to consider. One challenge is comparing crime rates between the ShotSpotter coverage area and other parts of the city. The differences in crime patterns and the added police presence in the ShotSpotter zone may skew the results, making it difficult to attribute all reductions in crime solely to the gunfire detection technology.
Another limitation is the broader context in which the data was collected. The COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on crime trends and public protests following the George Floyd incident could have influenced the crime data during the study period. Additionally, while the system has proven effective in Winston-Salem, more studies across different cities and extended periods are needed to confirm the long-term efficacy of ShotSpotter.
Future Recommendations
The results of The Impact of ShotSpotter Deployment in Winston-Salem suggest that continued investment in this technology is a worthwhile strategy for reducing gun violence and improving public safety. The substantial reduction in violent crime, faster response times, and strong financial returns make a compelling case for expanding ShotSpotter coverage in high-crime areas in Winston-Salem and other cities nationwide.
Moving forward, it is crucial to continue monitoring the system’s effectiveness through ongoing data collection and analysis. Additionally, more research is needed to determine how ShotSpotter-generated evidence contributes to prosecutions, as this could provide deeper insights into a gunshot detection system’s long-term impact on criminal justice outcomes. With careful implementation and sustained commitment, ShotSpotter could become an essential tool in the fight against gun violence.
Learn more about the data in Winston-Salem and read the independent research reports demonstrating the ShotSpotter gunshot detection system’s impact, effectiveness, success, and value.
