Gunshot Detection Technology: Understanding the Theoretical Mechanisms and Practical Applications Underpinning Desired Impacts on Gun Violence Reduction

• In Event: NIJ: Research and Evaluation on Firearms

Abstract

Gunshot Detection Technology (GDT) is an increasingly common technology deployed by police agencies to reduce response times, increase investigative power, and enhance relationships between police and community members in areas experiencing high rates of gun violence. This paper explores the theoretical underpinnings behind why and how GDT holds promise as an effective crime prevention tool and describes similarities and differences in how the technology is deployed in three evaluation sites. Findings are discussed with regard to both gaps in the scholarly research and implications for practice, illustrating ways in which certain types of GDT use can yield desired impacts on gun violence reduction.

Author

• Nancy La Vigne, Urban Institute