By Dennis Mares and the Center for Crime Science and Violence Prevention
ShotSpotter’s gunshot detection system was deployed in Winston-Salem in August 2021. Since then, nearly 2,000 alerts received a response by Winston-Salem Police.
Results indicate:
Improved response to gunfire
The response to alerts is significantly quicker than those called in by residents (- 5 min.).
ShotSpotter calls received significantly more investigative time, which likely indicates improved evidence recovery.
Fewer than one in four ShotSpotter alerts also received a call from residents.
ShotSpotter produces the following actionable results:
Shell casings were recovered in 581 incidents (37.1%)
Firearms were recovered in 47 (3%) of alerts.
Sixty-seven (3.4%) gun-related arrests are connected to alerts.
Deployment of ShotSpotter is related to a reduction in violent gun crimes:
Aggravated assaults are down 26% comparing before-after results in the ShotSpotter area.
Comparable area and overall city numbers indicate an increase in aggravated assaults during the same period. Comparatively assaults are down 38% in the ShotSpotter community.
In real numbers, there are between 51-75 fewer assaults annually in the ShotSpotter area than would be expected.
Cost-Benefits:
Our estimate suggests that ShotSpotter may save the Winston Salem community between $5 and $8 Million annually.
Average annual implementation cost is estimated between $230,000-350,000
This indicates a $15-25 return for each dollar spent.
Edwardsville, IL: Southern Illinois University, Center for Crime Science and Violence Prevention, 2024. 27p.