Chicago Ends ShotSpotter Contract Amid Growing Concerns

The City of Chicago has announced it will terminate its contract with ShotSpotter, a gun detection technology by SoundThinking, by September 22nd with an additional two-month transition period. The decision comes after the technology was met with scrutiny over its effectiveness and its impact on black and latin communities. Despite a $49 million investment and claims of helping in gunshot victim aid, criticisms include a low rate of gun crime detection and a rise in stop-and-frisk incidents. The city plans to explore alternative safety tools and strategies to enhance citizen’s safety and trust.