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                            Library & Multimedia
 Random Gunfire Problems and Gunshot Detection Systems, Research in Brief
NCJ Number
              179274

Author(s)
          Lorraine G. Mazerolle;
                        Cory  Watkins;
                        Dennis  Rogan;
                        James  Frank
Date Published

December 1999
Length
              8 pages
Publication Series
          NIJ Research in Brief
Annotation
              This Research in Brief summarizes the findings of field studies of two gunshot detection systems: Trilon Technology’s ShotSpotter system and Alliant Techsystems Inc.’s SECURES system.
Abstract
              The field tests examined acoustic sensing systems designed to detect the sound of a muzzle blast from a gun and, within seconds of the shot being fired, triangulate within some margin of error the location from which the shot was fired. Random gunfire problems, the “indiscriminate discharge of firearms into the air,” are strictly an outdoor activity, are not usually part of other criminal activity and random gunfire shooters do not fire their weapons to intentionally injure or kill people. The study of gunshot detection technology disclosed that: (1) the systems are likely to reveal rather high citizen  underreporting rates of random gunfire problems; (2) the technology is likely to increase police workloads, particularly if departments dispatch a patrol unit to every gunfire incident detected; (3) the systems are not likely to lead to more arrests of people firing weapons in urban settings because it is highly unlikely that offenders will stay at a location long enough for the police to arrive; and (4) the systems would fit into the problem-oriented policing paradigm, helping to identify random gunfire hotspots and develop strategies to address the problem. Table, notes
      
  
          Additional Details
Grant Number(s)
        96-MU-MU-0018


  
  
        
  Agencies
        NIJ


  
  
        
  Publication Type
        Report (Study/Research)
    
  
  
Date Published: December 1, 1999
    
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