The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office is celebrating a significant decrease in shootings in high crime areas, thanks to the use of gunshot detection technology. According to new statistics released by the JSO, alerts triggered by ShotSpotter devices have decreased by nearly 25 percent compared to the same time last year.
Last year, ShotSpotter devices had alerted authorities 429 times by April. This year, that number has dropped to just 325 alerts. JSO Assistant Chief Michael Paul emphasized that while the technology is not a solution to violent crime, it is a valuable tool in the fight against gun violence.
Despite the positive impact of ShotSpotter technology in high crime areas, countywide shooting statistics compiled by Action News Jax show a 21 percent increase in shootings compared to last year. However, Paul pointed out that overall violent crime in the city has decreased by 8.7 percent, with murders down nearly 30 percent.
Paul believes that the decrease in ShotSpotter alerts indicates that the technology is effectively targeting areas with the highest rates of gun violence. He emphasized the importance of using all available tools to keep communities safe.
While the exact cost of the ShotSpotter program for JSO this year is still unknown, the agency had initially planned to spend $400,000 on the pilot program back in 2016. The success of the technology in reducing shootings in high crime areas highlights the potential impact of innovative solutions in combating crime.