Book Review: Shots fired: Gun violence in the United States

• Published date: 01 December 2024
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1177/07340168211039005
• Author: Jeff Hosking
• Date: 01 December 2024

In order to provide a “balance of information,”according to the authors, Chapter 3 analyzes the

potential limitations and costs affiliated with BWCs. The first major concern that BWCs present is a

decrease in officer and citizen privacy. White and Malm suggest that BWC footage is often generated

when the citizen is at a low point and public access to such footage could potentially cause emotional

harm to the people in the video. They note studies regarding privacy in this area have yielded mixed

results, which the authors attribute to differences in sample subjects and survey items. There seems to

be a need for more research before definitive conclusions can be made regarding privacy. White and

Malm also examine 13 studies that discuss the concept of “De-Policing,”where officers are less pro-

ductive due to being observed. The findings were again mixed as some studies observed an increase

in arrest rates while others the opposite. This chapter did not seem as convincing as the previous,

largely due to the conflicting findings of the existing research.

Chapter 4 seeksto explain the proliferationof BWCs: The “diffusion of innovation”and “evidence-

based policing”frameworks. Specifically, the authors posited that formal and informal relationships

between law enforcement agencies (LEAs) and community and political actors created an ethos condu-

cive for BWC implementation. However, the “success”of BWCs has varied due to the differences in

desired outcomes of each police department. As discussed in the two previous chapters, the existing

research on BWCs would be more supportive of claims from departments aiming to increase transpar-

ency than increasing arrest rates. The authorspredict that BWCs will continueto be implemented in the

future, as the benefits highlight key aspects of policing organizations.

Finally, Chapter 5 serves to contextualize the implications of BWC research for practitioners and

to provide direction for future BWC research. First, the authors present likely hurdles policy makers

and agency heads may face, a six-step plan an agency should consider when adopting BWCs, and

viable avenues of inquiry for researchers. Finally, it instructs LEAs on how to best manage public

expectations regarding BWC footage, as well as addressing the “CSI effect.”

In conclusion, this book provides an excellent synopsis of all existing research regarding BWCs. It

also presents a thoughtful analysis for future policy and deployment considerations when agencies

implement BWCs. Any researcher interested in BWCs, or practitioners looking for information on

BWCs, would benefit from reading this book.

ORCID iD

Donovan J. Giardinahttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-7446-982X

Rahtz, H. (2020). Shots fired: Gun violence in the United States. Lynne Rienner Publishers. 222 pp. $55.00. ISBN:

9781626378841

Reviewed by: Jeff Hosking, Central Wyoming College, Riverton, WY, USA

DOI: 10.1177/07340168211039005

The United States is currently experiencing unprecedented levels of gun violence. While gun vio-

lence is not new to this country, it has reached a peak of salience among the public and media. In

Shots Fired: Gun Violence in the United States, author Howard Rahtz provides a balanced discussion

concerning these issues. The book addresses many underlying concerns related to gun violence in the

United States, including potential frameworks for better understanding the issues as well as viable

solutions aimed at reducing gun violence incidents.

During the review of this book, another shooting occurred in a small, rural community. This

once again brought the issue of gun violence and possible solutions to the forefront of public

Book Reviews547