ShotSpotter gunfire detection technology has delivered as promised in terms of enabling police to quickly detect and respond to gunshots in two American cities, research from Northeastern University finds. But the controversial technology has not translated into public safety gains, according to the research titled, “The Impact of Gunshot Detection Technology on Gun Violence in Kansas City and Chicago: A Multi-pronged Evaluation.”
“It’s quicker at detecting gunshots and gets officers on the scene quicker,” says Eric Piza, professor of criminology and criminal justice and director of Crime Analysis Initiatives at Northeastern. “However, we found that none of those procedural benefits translated to any public safety gains,” Piza continues. “Gun violence did not reduce in either (Kansas City or Chicago) following the introduction of ShotSpotter, and shootings were not anymore likely to be solved in either city following the introduction of ShotSpotter.”
