FREMONT, Calif., December 7, 2022 – ShotSpotter, Inc. (Nasdaq: SSTI), a leader in precision policing technology solutions that enable law enforcement to more effectively respond to, investigate, and deter crime, announced today the launch of Data for Good, a corporate program that shares precision data about where and when gun violence occurs so community groups and other non-law enforcement organizations can provide prompt interventions to residents in need of services and support. With timely and accurate gunfire location data, community violence intervention groups, social services, and many other community organizations can better direct their resources to prevent future violence, address root cause issues in the neighborhood and provide assistance to those impacted by the psychological trauma that results from persistent gun violence
According to the Annals of Internal Medicine, gunfire exposure is associated with a 50% increase in psychiatric disorders and an 85% increase in substance use disorders. Individuals exposed to ongoing gunfire incidents can experience PTSD-like symptoms and require immediate follow-up. Local and national organizations in communities across the country help to address this problem through a variety of means, including violence intervention and prevention, counseling and economic assistance.
The Data for Good program encourages ShotSpotter’s law enforcement agency partners to share gunfire data through custom analytical tools such as heat maps and dashboards in collaboration with non-law enforcement community groups. These tools will inform offices of violence prevention, schools, city and county victim services programs and other community organizations indicating where gunfire and potential trauma may be occurring so they can deploy necessary resources to offer immediate and lasting help and address the core issues that drive crime.
“ShotSpotter technology is widely known for helping law enforcement save lives and improve the safety of communities we serve nationwide. I’m excited to now share that our Data for Good program will extend this positive impact more deeply into violence prevention and community assistance work,” said Ralph A. Clark, President and CEO of ShotSpotter. “We hope to see this grow from the handful of community organizations that currently utilize ShotSpotter gunfire data to hundreds across the country to deploy their social, health and economic resources to the right places at the right times in order to help prevent violence.”
Walking One Stop has been using ShotSpotter data since July 2019 to determine where to dispatch their violence intervention and social support teams in Miami-Dade County, Florida to assess and address the needs of residents in at-risk, under-served areas. It often includes the local workforce development mobile unit where residents receive onthe-spot assistance with employment and vocational training. “This is the best example of collective efficacy I’ve ever seen,” said Wayne Rawlins, founder of Walking One Stop. “It’s law enforcement walking in lockstep with community members, going right to the doorstep of the homes that have been impacted by gun and gang violence and providing resources thanks to ShotSpotter pinpointing where to send us.”
The Mobile Police Department spearheads Operation Echo Stop that brings together law enforcement, the community and civic leaders across the city to reduce gun violence. The group partners with ShotSpotter to provide data that supports their victim services, family intervention outreach, and engagement activities. “ShotSpotter brings stakeholders from various community groups together in real time with task assignments and information sharing to address the social, psychiatric, educational, spiritual and physical health of individuals effected by the trauma of gun violence in our community,” said Dr. Cindy Gibson, Associate Director for Crisis Services, AltaPointe Health and Associate Professor, South Alabama Department of Psychiatry.
To learn more about how ShotSpotter assists community-based programs, please visit our Data for Good page.
About ShotSpotter
ShotSpotter Inc. (NASDAQ: SSTI) brings the power of digital transformation to law enforcement and community assistance groups. We are trusted by more than 200 customers and 2,500 agencies to drive more efficient, effective, and equitable public safety outcomes, making communities healthier. Our platform includes the flagship product, ShotSpotter Respond™, the #1 gunshot detection system for rapid response to gunfire to save the lives of victims; Coplink X, the #1 investigative lead search tool to accelerate crime solving; Investigate and GCM, case management software to produce courtroom-ready cases; and Connect, analyst software that plans deployment of limited patrol resources for maximum impact. ShotSpotter has been designated a Great Place to Work® Company.
