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Connections

Connections: Should ShotSpotter be used to analyze cases?

Technology reporter Todd Feathers wrote an extensive piece for Vice's Motherboard about the police tool known as ShotSpotter. It's a piece of technology that supposedly offers accurate analysis of where and when gunshots were fired. It's been used countless times across the country. But Feathers reports that there is essentially no verification that it works, and police have sought to manipulate its findings -- including a case in Rochester.

We discuss what we know about the technology and whether it's an appropriate way to analyze cases. Our guests:

  • Todd Feathers, freelance reporter writing about technology for Vice
  • Katie Higgins, assistant public defender
  • Elizabeth Riley, special assistant public defender
  • Iman Abid, director of the Genesee Valley Chapter of the New York Civil Liberties Union

Connections
Evan Dawson is the host of "Connections with Evan Dawson." He joined WXXI in January 2014 after working at 13WHAM-TV, where he served as morning news anchor. He was hired as a reporter for 13WHAM-TV in 2003 before being promoted to anchor in 2007.
Megan Mack is the executive producer of "Connections with Evan Dawson" and live/televised engagement programming.