Current & Completed Projects
Current Projects
NEW!! Smart Policing Initiative Grant: License Plate Readers and Crime Analysis in Alton
Alton PD was awarded an 800K grant from the Bureaus of Justice Assistance to expand its License Plate Reader network and develop a crime analysis approach. CCSVP will assist the Alton PD with the implementation and evaluation of the project
NEW!!! Rural and Small Department Violent Crime Reduction Program: Collinsville PD
Collinsville PD was awarded nearly 300k to expand its license plate cameras and digital forensics technology. CCSVP will assist with implementation and evaluation of the project
Smart Policing Initiative Grant: Hot Spots Policing
CCSVP is working on a collaborative project with the Saint Louis Metropolitan Police Department on a Bureau of Justice Assistance funded grant to improve the department’s response to gunshot detection alerts. The project includes both improvements to the immediate response of gunfire and creation of an all-new preventative approach. CCSVP will provide implementation assistance, policy development and provide the final project evaluation.
Body-Worn Camera Program: Alton and East St. Louis
CCSVP is currently working with Alton and East St. Louis’ police departments on a three-year project implementing and evaluating the impact of a Body-Worn Camera grant provided by the Bureau of Justice Assistance.
PROWD, Prisoner Re-entry and Workforce Development (with C-PAN)
Funded by the Department of Labor, this large multi-year, multi-agency project seeks to improve re-entry for returning citizens from federal correctional institutions. CCSVPs role in the project is to determine re-entry characteristics and needs.
Completed Projects
Smart Policing Initiative Grant: Mobile Surveillance Trailers
In 2017, the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department was awarded a Smart Policing Initiative grant to examine the efficacy of ‘mobile surveillance trailers’. These surveillance units include cameras, license plate readers, and gunshot detection and are directly tied into the SLMPD’s Real Time Crime Center. Dr. Mares was the evaluator of the project and worked closely with the SLMPD on implementation and developing best practices. The project included a randomized controlled trial to deploy the trailers and control sites. The final report indicated some benefits of the units including reductions in property crimes and a reduction in gunfire in the immediate areas surrounding the trailers.
The project received the Arthur J. Barnett Planner of the Year Award (2020) of the International Association of Law Enforcement Planners and was featured in a recent Bureau of Justice Assistance webinar
Gunshot Detection: Reducing Gunfire through Acoustic Technology
In 2022, the Bureau of Justice Assistance and Arizona State University‘s Problem Oriented Policing Center published a Problem Oriented Policing Guide on gunshot detection systems authored by Dr. Mares, director of CCSVP. The guide covers recent research on the topic and describes best practices for the use of systems that monitor gunfire and can direct resources to the scene. A webinar hosted by BJA and CNA accompanied the release of the guide.
A Cost-Benefit Analysis of ShotSpotter in Winston-Salem (updated)
After implementing ShotSpotter’s gunshot detection system, the Winston-Salem Police Department in North Carolina asked CCSVP to perform an assessment of the impact on police practices and outcome of the implementation. View Results. In 2024 CCSVP was requested by Winston-Salem PD to update the results with additional data, allowing more rigorous statistical testing. Results can be viewed here.
Dashboard Development
As we are currently working with several regional agencies on developing more comprehensive maps and dashboards, we will post as they become available
For ways we can assist you, please view our services (link to services) or contact us directly at [email protected].
