Boston’s ShotSpotter Technology: A Question of Accuracy and Effectiveness

In 2007, Boston’s police department began using ShotSpotter technology to help them locate and time gunshots. The technology, created by SoundThinking, uses acoustic sensors strategically placed throughout the city to detect gunfire. According to the company, these sensors allow the police to quickly respond to shootings, even if no one calls 911.

However, with Boston’s ShotSpotter contract set to expire in June, a new report from the ACLU of Massachusetts has raised questions about the reliability of the technology. The ACLU analyzed over 1,300 Boston police reports and found that nearly 70% of ShotSpotter alerts did not result in any evidence of shots being fired.

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. To stay updated on this issue, you can subscribe to the GBH YouTube channel or follow GBH News on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter