During the illuminating hour-long conversation, we covered a lot of ground, particularly around the critically important topic of stopping the cycle of youth gun violence. I left the conference thinking about several important takeaways that I’d like to unpack in this blog. When working to decrease violence and promote public...
This negative rhetoric has grown so loud it can be difficult for police to share success stories, as they are oftentimes unjustly criticized by anti-policing groups in board meetings and other key community gatherings. In a previous post, I talked about the challenges police face with managing the large amounts...
It can be helpful to think of the police-community relationship as a social contract in which community members agree to give up certain liberties in exchange for protection. This contract can be viewed as a delicate dance because agencies have a lot of discretionary power and require significant trust from...
Ultimately, serving the community and treating citizens in a just manner is the standard that all police officers should adhere to. But with this said, we are well aware that even the word justice is highly charged, given that many citizens in communities around the country (and the world) have...
At ShotSpotter, we appreciate and respect the ACLU’s mission to defend and preserve individual rights and liberties. With its influence and prominent platform for doing good, though, comes the responsibility to be accurate and fair. Unfortunately, the August 2021 byline titled “Four Problems with the ShotSpotter Gunshot Detection System” contained...
All too often, the desire for safer and healthier communities is palpable, yet challenges arise due to a lack of trust between stakeholders, limited resources, and disagreements over proposed solutions. To overcome these common obstacles and move forward in stemming the tide of violence, community members should consider these holistic,...
Many of our individual activities leave behind a digital trail. Cell phone activities. Credit cards. Social media engagement. Website clicks. Today, our digital trails have become so expansive that people are more conscious of privacy issues than ever before. Just because you share personal information through the devices you use...
Recent research from Penn Medicine and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia highlighted a troubling truth: Exposure to gun violence trauma is associated with higher rates of mental health-related emergency department visits by children. In the study, a child is considered exposed to gun violence when they live within 4-5 blocks of...
Twelve major cities set homicide records this year. And yet more than 80% of gunshots are not reported to 911, leaving our most vulnerable communities ignored and their sons, brothers, uncles and fathers left to die as gunshot victims when a prompt response by first responders might have saved them....
The relationship between police and community centers around a complex and deeply rooted social contract that will take concentrated effort and time to piece back together. But there are some actionable steps police can take to start improving relations. 1. Identify Areas Experiencing the Highest Level of Trauma & Gun...
About ShotSpotter, Inc.
ShotSpotter is a leader in precision policing solutions that enable law enforcement to more effectively respond to, investigate and deter crime.
