The Impact of Gunshot Detection Technology on Gun Violence in Kansas City and Chicago: A Multi-Pronged Synthetic Control Evaluation

Posted byEric PizaPosted inExternal Awards

2020-2023

Funder: National Institute of Justice
($503,129)

Principal Investigator: Eric L. Piza

Co-Principal Investigators: Jeremy G. Carter & George O. Mohler

Project Overview

This quasi-experimental longitudinal interrupted time series project will evaluate the Gunshot Detection Technology (GDT) systems (ShotSpotter) in Kansas City, MO, and Chicago, IL using a synthetic control group approach to improve comparability. Both cities installed their GDT systems in 2012, which will allow for a comparison of relevant outcome measures in the 7-year post-GDT period (2012 – 2019) to the 7-year pre-GDT period (2005 – 2011). Because of differences in how GDT was deployed in Chicago and Kansas City, the project team will be able to determine the effect associated with the initial deployment of GDT in Kansas City and the continuous expansion of GDT coverage in Chicago.

Four distinct research questions will be explored for both KCPD and CPD: 1) What effect does GDT have on officer responses to and time spent on gunfire scenes? 2) What effect does GDT have on the collection of ballistic evidence? 3) What effect does GDT have on the occurrence of gun crimes? and 4. What effect does GDT have on criminal investigations (i.e., case closure) of gun crimes?

Project Publications