View This Email In Your Browser
Launched in 1996, ShotSpotter is now used in more than 180 communities across the country. The technology uses acoustic sensors to detect gunfire, alerting police to shots that may not come in through 911 calls.
The technology is in use in six cities in North Carolina—Fayetteville, New Bern, Wilmington, Rocky Mount, Greenville, and Goldsboro. The company, which changed its name to SoundThinking in 2023, had a projected revenue of $104 million last year.
But a number of major cities have declined to renew their contracts, including Chicago, Atlanta, and Portland, Oregon. So have Durham, Winston-Salem, and Charlotte, which ended its $160,000-a-year contract for the technology in 2016 after four years, saying that the “return on investment was not high enough to justify renewal.”
Critics say the technology is both ineffective and has led to wrongful arrests and over-policing in Black and Latino communities.
A team of reporters from across The Assembly, CityView, and INDY Week dug into what’s happened with ShotSpotter in different parts of the state, and what it might mean for future efforts to address gun violence.
The Company Behind ShotSpotter Says It Curbs Gun Violence. But Some Cities Fear It’s An Empty Promise.
Several North Carolina cities have ended ties with the company that uses technology to track gun violence, saying the data hasn’t backed claims. But others have extended contracts despite backlash.
The company has aggressively defended itself against criticism. ShotSpotter saves lives, said Tom Chittum, the company’s vice president of analytics and forensics. “We know there’s chronic underreporting of gunfire in urban areas, even when there are gunshot victims,” he said, “and ShotSpotter helps fill that gap.”
Have a news tip for our team? You can reach us at scoops@theassemblync.com.
What’s 2025 Going to Look Like in State Politics?
Join us Thursday, January 23 at 12 p.m. for a virtual event examining the changing landscape in the General Assembly and shifting balance of power in state government. We’re bringing together a star-studded panel of journalists and experts that includes:
- Ren Larson, The Assembly
- Lucille Sherman, Axios
- Colin Campbell, WUNC
- Eduardo Medina, New York Times
- John Hood, Pope Foundation
- Asher Hildebrand, Duke University
Our conversation will be moderated by The Assembly’s John Drescher and Emily Stephenson.
This event is currently only open to readers who have a Premium Subscription. You can start a Premium Subscription today to attend. Once you become a subscriber, visit our Premium Portal to access the link to register for this event. We hope to have you with us next week!
What We’re Reading
Resistance2.0: Gov. Josh Stein directed cabinet agencies not to cooperate with prosecution and penalties against anyone who provided legal abortions and said agencies must review how they store data on reproductive health, per The Associated Press.
Lien In: Advocate Health said it canceled thousands of debt judgments held as liens against patients’ homes in multiple states, including North Carolina. Many patients say the moves fall short, including for people who had already paid what they owed, The Guardian reports.
Out of the Woods: Outgoing Secretary of Health and Human Services Kody Kinsley called for a ban on wilderness therapy camps, via WBTV. Two children died in the span of a decade at one camp in western North Carolina.
Forever in Dreams: NC Rabbit Hole looks at the late David Lynch’s ties to North Carolina, which go beyond filming Blue Velvet in Wilmington.
Our Recent Stories
How Destin Hall Rose From Humble Beginnings to House Speaker
Hall, the youngest House speaker in 200 years, will have greater influence over the Republican agenda.
Vernon Johnson Seeking Late Mother’s Greensboro Council Seat
The son of the late Yvonne Johnson is planning to run for her at-large seat on the Greensboro City Council.
Scholars, Farmers Try to Perfect a New Use for a Southern Staple Food
Okra seeds yield a liquid comparable to extra-virgin olive oil, but the crop isn’t ready for commercial production.
The Assembly is a digital magazine covering power and place in North Carolina. Sent this by a friend? Subscribe to our newsletter here.
You must be logged in to post a comment.