Albuquerque Journal: Study on ShotSpotter in Kansas City Finds ‘No Meaningful Change’ in Violence

ShotSpotter has been around for decades and, according to the company, has been implemented at one time or another in more than 130 cities nationwide. Although only a few years old in Albuquerque, numerous studies and surveys have been done on the technology and its effectiveness over the years. On its website, ShotSpotter described the system as, “By itself, it is not a cure-all.” “But when used as part of a comprehensive gun crime response strategy, it can contribute to positive outcomes for the police and the community,” according to the website. A study by a group that receives funding from ShotSpotter reported a 30% drop in assaults, including gun-related assaults, in St. Louis County after the system was implemented. The study also found the overall number of arrests were “unchanged” by the technology’s use. In addition, some community surveys have been favorable to the tech. But other research has found fewer benefits of Shotspotter, including a recently completed 15-year study of the program in Kansas City. Professor Eric Piza, director of Crime Analysis Initiatives at Northeastern University, began to study the ShotSpotter program there in 2019, where it had been in operation since 2012. The study considered crime data dating back to 2005, prior to ShotSpotter being implemented…