In the past decade, Boston police have relied on ShotSpotter technology to quickly identify gunshot locations and times. The technology, developed by SoundThinking, uses acoustic sensors strategically placed throughout the city to detect gunshots. However, with the expiration of Boston’s ShotSpotter contract in June 2023, a new report from the ACLU of Massachusetts raises concerns about its reliability.
According to the report, nearly 70% of ShotSpotter alerts did not result in any evidence of shots being fired. This raises questions about the effectiveness of the technology and whether it is worth renewing the contract. Kade Crockford, director of the Technology for Liberty Project at the ACLU of Massachusetts, and Tom Chittum, SoundThinking’s senior vice president of Analytics and Forensic Services, will discuss the role and impact of ShotSpotter in Boston at an upcoming event.
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