An Exploration of the Tactical and Strategic Uses of the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network in Detroit, Michigan

Overview

This study will investigate the on-the-ground tactical and strategic uses of the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) in Detroit, Michigan, in an effort to help identify its potential to address firearm violence.

Status

Awarded

Purpose

This study leverages the advent of Detroit’s Crime Gun Intelligence Center (CGIC)—an interagency collaboration that supports efficient NIBIN processing, comprehensive NIBIN lead reports, and the joint use of NIBIN and eTrace—to better understand NIBIN’s potential to address firearm violence.

Approach

Tactical Aim: To estimate the effect of the advent of CIGC on the likelihood of identifying suspects and witnesses, clearances, and criminal convictions from NIBIN leads. To address this aim, this study will consider leads that occurred before and after CIGIC’s introduction using a matching approach and logistic regression.

Strategic Aim: To explore how the linkage of NIBIN and eTrace can be leveraged to understand patterns of firearm activities and prevent firearm violence. To address this aim, this study will survey and conduct interviews with CGIC members and explore spatial and spatial-temporal patterns of crime guns using NIBIN and eTrace.

Significance

Findings from this study will help identify best practices and challenges associated with the tactical and strategic uses of NIBIN, which in turn will inform the development of new and better policies and enforcement initiatives for violence prevention.

Investigator Bio

Alaina De Biasi, Ph.D., is a postdoctoral fellow with the University of California Firearm Violence Research Center. Her interests include evaluating the effectiveness of violence prevention initiatives, conducting community-engaged research, and understanding the geography of crime, including the role of social and physical environments on influencing violence, perceptions of safety, and fear of crime. She completed her doctorate in criminal justice at Michigan State University