Gunfire and Gun Crime: Exploring the Relationship

• In Event: The Value of Integrating Data across Agencies and Jurisdictions to Improve Public Safety

Abstract

Using data from Washington DC's gunfire detection technology system, this research investigates the relationship between a new measure of violent crime, gunfire, and traditional measures of violent firearm crime like firearm homicides,
robberies, and aggravated assaults from 2010 to 2013. Geospatial and spatial autocorrelation analyses are used to determine the degree to which the distribution and prevalence of gunfire follows and differs from the distribution and prevalence of reported firearm crimes. Implications for the research and measurement of firearm crime are discussed and further opportunities for the use of this data are explored.

Authors

• Nancy La Vigne, Urban Institute

• Samuel Bieler, Urban Institute

• Jeremy Levy, Urban Institute