Sound Thinking
Law Enforcement
Data for Good

Data For Good Program Assists Community Violence Intervention and Public Health Groups

Access to gunfire data helps direct critical services to at-risk communities

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THE CHALLENGE FOR COMMUNITIES

Gunfire Impacts People in More Ways Than You Might Think

40%

Increase in physical pain or other forms of pain syndromes

51%

Increase in psychiatric disorders

85%

Increase in substance use disorders

In light of these staggering statistics, cities are increasingly developing a public health approach to violence prevention. Precision data about where and when gun violence occurs can provide prompt interventions to people in need of services and support. With timely and accurate gunfire location data, community violence intervention groups and mental health professionals can more quickly aid youth and families in crisis to more effectively prevent future violence and other negative outcomes.

SoundThinking’s Data for Good Program

SoundThinking’s Data for Good Program helps law enforcement customers identify offices of violence prevention, schools, city and county public health departments and other community organizations that would receive gunfire data and analytics including heatmaps and dashboards. These tools indicate where gunfire and potential trauma may be occurring so the appropriate community resources can be deployed to offer immediate and lasting support and help address the core issues that drive crime.

OUR MISSION TO EMPOWER COMMUNITIES

Key Stakeholders that Benefit From Data for Good

The impact of our data expands far beyond law enforcement. Our Data For Good program quickly notifies schools, city and county victim services programs, offices of violence prevention, and other non-law enforcement organizations about where gunfire and potential trauma may be occurring, so they can deploy the resources needed to offer both timely and lasting help.

Protect Community
Offices of Violence Prevention and Neighborhood Safety
Our custom dashboards provide accurate and timely analysis of gunfire hotspots, notifying violence interrupters of where to deploy resources to areas in most need.
School
School-Based Handle with Care Programs
We provide accurate and timely notification of gunfire incidents informs school-based mental health practitioners as to which students may be impacted by gun violence trauma, so they can provide interventions if needed.
Hospital
Hospital-Based Violence Intervention Programs
Our custom dashboards containing accurate and timely reporting of gunfire incidents enables case managers and violence interrupters to promptly follow-up and reduce the likelihood of further victimization and/or retaliation.
Service Community
City and County Victim Services Programs
Our custom dashboards inform case managers of gunfire in and around recent victim and witness homes, and enable them to conduct safety check-ins, offer crisis stabilization counseling, and provide other health services.
Public Health
Departments of Public Health
Our custom dashboards provide detailed analysis of where gun violence trauma may be occurring, enabling public health leaders to make informed deployment decisions for health programs, services, and investments.
Health Community
Federally Qualified Health Center Outreach Programs
We provide monthly heat maps of gunfire activity to federally qualified health center outreach programs so they can direct outreach teams to enroll residents in primary and mental health care services where it’s most needed.
These Dashboards are offered free of charge to the following non-law enforcement governmental organizations: Offices of Violence Prevention (Offices of Neighborhood Safety & Engagement), Hospital-Based Violence Intervention Programs, Educational Institutions, and City, County, and State Public Health agencies through individual data sharing agreements with participating public safety departments.

FEATURED COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS

PARTNER

Walking One Stop, Miami-Dade County

SoundThinking partners with Walking One Stop to provide data on where shootings occur in Miami-Dade County, enabling the organization to assist the areas that are most impacted. With a focus on bringing social and economic resources to the doorstops of those who have recently or persistently experienced gun or gang violence, Walking One Stop has provided nearly 3,000 referrals for services and support from 2018 to 2020. The majority of those referrals connected community members with social service providers within one week of initial contact. Additionally, more than 20 elected officials, researchers, and national advocates have joined Walking One Stop to hear directly from families in need about the policies, programs, and interventions necessary to address crime and improve their neighborhoods.

a close up of a person wearing a suit and tie
Wayne Rawlins
Founder of Walking One Stop

Walking One Stop is the best example of collective efficacy that I’ve ever seen. It’s law enforcement walking in lockstep with community members, going right to the doorstep of the homes that have been impacted by gun and gang violence. ShotSpotter technology allows us to pinpoint where to send the Walking One Stop. It’s not so much a law enforcement initiative as it is a community violence intervention initiative.

Wayne Rawlins
Founder of Walking One Stop
Learn more about how SoundThinking partners with Walking One Stop
in the United States Conference of Mayors Business Council 2022 Best Practices report.

PARTNER

Baton Rouge, LA

The Baton Rouge PD shares ShotSpotter data in dashboard format with faith-based community organizations, violence interrupters, and other nonprofits. Sharing ShotSpotter data informs where to direct timely interventions and necessary resources to keep the community safe.

a man wearing glasses and a suit jacket
Chief Murphy J. Paul Jr.
Baton Rouge Police Department

Gun violence is a community issue, not a police issue. So we’re taking that same data and pushing it to our service providers. And for anyone else who is involved in dealing with the root causes of crime, we’re willing to share that data with them as well. We’re no longer holding onto the data. We’re making it public. And we are asking the community to do their part in helping us reduce gun violence in our city.

Chief Murphy J. Paul Jr.
Baton Rouge Police Department

PARTNER

Build Springfield, Springfield IL

The Springfield, Illinois initiative Build Springfield leverages ResourceRouter data to determine what areas of the city need additional resources. Focusing on community outreach, education, and engagement, Build Springfield includes the city’s Public Works and Planning and Economic Development agencies, Memorial Behavioral Health Center, The Outlet mentorship program, and many others.

a man in a suit and tie smiling for a picture
Jim Langfelder
Mayor of Springfield, IL

What it's all about is helping these residents get a better path in life and how we can lift up this whole area… If you transform 11th to 18th, South Grand to Cook, that's a transformational change for the east side. That's what it's all about, lifting up all of our neighborhoods (so) that each and every one of us would like to live there.

Jim Langfelder
Mayor of Springfield, IL

PARTNER

Operation Echo Stop, Mobile AL

SoundThinking and the Mobile PD have partnered with Operation Echo Stop to provide data that supports their victim services, family intervention outreach, and engagement activities. In addition, the partnership assists the University of South Alabama, Mobile County Schools, and the Mobile Police Department’s Strengthening Opportunities for Achievement and Resilience (SOAR) initiative. With a focus on reducing youth violence and suicidality, SoundThinking helps SOAR identify students exposed to urban gun violence so they can provide mental health and safety interventions in a timely manner.

In this Fox10 News interview, learn more about how SoundThinking is working with Operation Echo Stopto help reduce gun violence and the improve the quality of life in the community.

PARTNER

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Fort Lauderdale is harnessing the Data for Good Program to transition from punitive measures to a comprehensive, community-oriented strategy for violence prevention. By sharing precision gunfire data with local community groups, the city targets resources and interventions effectively, fostering community engagement and shared responsibility for safety.

a police officer is smiling for a picture
CHIEF PATRICK LYNN
Fort Lauderdale Police Department

By embracing the Data for Good Program, we can now pivot to a holistic community-based approach to violence prevention, outreach, and community engagement. This fosters a sense of ownership and collective responsibility for community safety rather than relying solely on punitive measures. By bridging the gap between law enforcement and the community, we can co-create effective solutions that deter crime and nurture an environment where individuals can thrive and reach their full potential.

CHIEF PATRICK LYNN
Fort Lauderdale Police Department
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