Extracted text (via pymupdf)
5934 characters
The following jurisdictions have signed agreements to participate in the project: Arizona Department of Health Services Law Enforcement Partners: Police Departments (n=42): Apache Junction, Avondale*, Buckeye, Bullhead City, Casa Grande, Chandler, Clarkdale*, Chino Valley, Cottonwood, Douglas, DPS*, Eloy, Flagstaff, Gilbert, Glendale, Goodyear*, Kingman, Lake Havasu, Marana, Maricopa, Mesa, Nogales, Oro Valley, Paradise Valley, Payson, Peoria, Phoenix, Prescott, Prescott Valley, Safford, Sahuarita, Saint John’s, Scottsdale, Sedona, Show Low, Snowflake/ Taylor, Sierra Vista, Surprise, Tempe, Tucson, Winslow, and Yuma. Sheriffs’ Offices (n=8): Cochise, Coconino, Mohave, Navajo, Pima, Pinal, Yavapai, and Yuma Counties Medical Examiners (n=15): Apache, Cochise, Coconino, Gila, Graham, Greenlee, La Paz, Maricopa, Mohave, Navajo, Pima, Pinal, Santa Cruz, Yavapai, and Yuma Counties. *indicates in-progress Signed law enforcement agreements represent over 86% of violent deaths statewide, while signed medical examiner agreements represent over 99% of violent deaths statewide. Contact Information Charles Katz, Ph.D. Watts Family Director and Professor Center for Violence Prevention and Community Safety School of Criminology and Criminal Justice Arizona State University charles.katz@asu.edu 602.496.1470 David E. Choate AZ-VDRS Project Manager Associate Director Center for Violence Prevention and Community Safety Arizona State University david.choate@asu.edu 602.496.1473 Taylor Cox, Ph.D. Center for Violence Prevention and Community Safety Arizona State University tcox2@mainex1.asu.edu 602.496.1472 More information on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's NVDRS and what other states are doing can be found at www.cdc.gov/ViolencePrevention/NVDRS The Center for Violence Prevention and Community Safety (the Center) at Arizona State University is the bona fide agent for the State of Arizona to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and its National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS). Prior to 2015, there were 18 states across the country (AK, CO, GA, KY, MD, MA, MI, NJ, NM, NC, OH, OK, OR, RI, SC, UT, VA, and WI) with established NVDRS programs. Arizona was one of 14 states added for 2015 data collection (AZ, CT, HI, IL, IN, IA, KS, ME, MN, NH, NY, PA, WA. Currently, all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia participate. NVDRS sites compile statewide, comprehensive data on violent deaths by collecting information from death certificates, medical examiner reports, police departments, and other appropriate local agencies. Objectives of these statewide surveillance systems include providing comprehensive snapshots of violent incidents to further understand such events and informing communities, policy makers, planners, and decision makers on violent deaths. Data collection for the project is funded by a grant from the CDC. While AZ-VDRS has over five dozen participating partners currently, the Center is continuing to recruit key stakeholders and data providers throughout Arizona for the expanded success of this project, with particular emphasis on sheriffs’ offices and tribal communities. Frequently Asked Questions Q. Is this an unfunded mandate? A. No. Data collection is not meant to be a burden, and the CDC will provide compensation to assist with data collection. The specific strategy for collection will reflect the wants and needs of each agency. The project can provide funding to support agency personnel in the collection process, or ASU personnel can conduct site visits to collect the AZ-VDRS information without burdening the agency. Q. Will the Federal Government use this data to create new mandates on our operations? A. No. To date, this has not been the case in the states that have been reporting NVDRS data for more than a decade. The NVDRS does not create or enforce any such mandates upon law enforcement agencies, nor is such activity any part of the mission and goals of the data system. The intention of the AZ-VDRS team is to bring localized, Arizona-specific data to key stakeholders (e.g., state public health officials, law enforcement, medical professionals, and suicide/homicide related social service providers) working collaboratively to improve Arizona communities’ response to violent death concerns. Q. Will the data be kept secure? A. Yes. The Center for Violence Prevention and Community Safety will house the data in their secure data room. The Center has extensive experience working with sensitive law enforcement-related data and confidential criminal history records. The secure data office has both physical and electronic safeguards consistent with HIPAA security requirements. Q. Why is ASU asking us to participate? A. The CDC has identified Arizona as a critical state for participation in the NVDRS, due in part to its geographic importance as a U.S.-Mexico border state, the diversity of urban and rural communities, racial and ethnic composition, and its significant growth characteristics. The AZ- VDRS data is intended for use by the communities and interested parties within Arizona, working on solutions for homicides and suicides through local and/or statewide efforts. Q. What is the difference between NVDRS data and UCR/SHR reports? A. The UCR and the Supplemental Homicide Reports (SHR) contain much of the same information that is sought as part of the National Violent Death Reporting System. One key area of difference is the data abstraction process looking for key characteristic and circumstance information from law enforcement report narratives (including supplementals). The wealth of information in these sources is critical to the success of AZ-VDRS. Of course, the more obvious distinction of AZ-VDRS from UCR/SHR is the collection of data on suicide incidents as well.