Firearms – Data Dashboards | FAQs
Firearms – Data Dashboards | FAQs
This section details frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the Firearms – Data Dashboards
Q: What are the firearms data dashboards?
A: The Firearms Data Dashboards represent a statewide initiative by the Commonwealth to promote transparency around firearm use and licensing in Massachusetts. Established pursuant to Chapter 135 of the Acts of 2024 — An Act Modernizing Firearm Laws, (the “Act”), MGL c. 140, s. 121E, the dashboards consolidate firearm-related data from multiple state sources and will improve access to secure, anonymized firearms-related data, facilitate high-level analysis for the public, stakeholders, and researchers to inform public policy and improve public safety.
Q: Why create these dashboards, and what impact will it have for Commonwealth residents?
A: The Act required the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services (DCJIS), in collaboration with the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS) and Executive Office of Technology Services and Security (EOTSS), to create a set of publicly accessible data dashboards related to the use of firearms in the Commonwealth.
The dashboards are designed to provide transparency regarding firearm-related information to facilitate public understanding and potentially inform discussions and policies related to firearm use and safety in the Commonwealth.
Q: What steps has EOPSS and DCJIS taken thus far to develop the Firearms – Data Dashboards?
A: DCJIS and EOPSS approached this complex process understanding that it would require coordination and partnership amongst public safety partners. DCJIS has been working on regulations that define key terms, outline agency responsibilities, specify data contributions, and establish technical requirements. DCJIS plans to publish notice of these regulations and hold a public hearing during the Autumn months of 2025. DCJIS has also worked closely with the Massachusetts State Police and the Office of the Medical Examiner to collect required data elements. Additionally, EOPSS leveraged the integrated Cross-Tracking System to collect data from the Trial Courts. DCJIS and EOPSS follow the FBI CJIS Security Policy requirements for the handling, transfer of data with each data source.
Together, the partners strategized how to standardize data for presentation, moved data securely from agencies to the dashboard, and developed public-facing visualization designs. The dashboards will allow users to review data trends and gain an understanding of the use of firearms in the Commonwealth. As the first dashboards of their kind to promote transparency of firearm use within the Commonwealth, DCJIS anticipates further improvements as more data becomes available.
Q: Will the dashboard allow members of the public to access information about a specific person?
A: No, due to privacy laws and regulations relating to Criminal Offender Record Information Laws (CORI) and firearms license information, M.G.L. c. 6, § 172 and M.G.L. c. 66,§ 10B, which prohibit the access to, and dissemination of, criminal offense related information and personally identifiable information relating to firearms license holders, the public facing information does not include any personally identifiable information (PII). The public facing dashboards should be used to understand trends across the Commonwealth.
Q: Why don’t I see a particular option in the dropdown filters?
A: If a specific option does not appear in the drop-down, it means that no qualifying data reflecting that option/combination of options are currently unavailable. Once qualifying data becomes available, the option will appear in the filter.
Q: Why are there no results when I filter the dashboard by certain criteria?
A: There are two potential reasons.
First, there may be no data for the criteria you selected.
Second, the dashboard will not display results if the criteria you selected return fewer than five (5) records. Displaying information in this context may violate the privacy provisions of M.G.L. C. 6, s. 172 and M.G.L. c. 66, s. 10B. For example, if the results yield only 3 female victims of armed robbery, this information will not be displayed as it may be used with other publicly available information to identify the victim or the offender in violation of state law.
Q: How is the age of the offender determined?
A: Age is determined by the difference between the date of the offense and the Offender’s date of birth. Ages will be assigned to the following groups consistent with the existing public dashboard:
- 17 and Below
- 18 to 24
- 25 to 29
- 30 to 39
- 40 to 49
- 50 to 59
- 60 and above
Q: How are the race and ethnicity of the Applicant, Offender, or Victim reported?
A: Race and ethnicity are reported consistent with reference to the categories used by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Criminal Justice Information Services Division, Uniform Crime Reporting Program, National Incident- Based Reporting System User Manual, when available, race shall be published by the criminal justice agencies as follows:
- A - Asian;
- B - Black or African-American;
- I - American Indian or Alaska Native;
- W - White;
- P- Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander; and
- U - Unknown.
Ethnicity has three values:
- Hispanic / Latino
- Not Hispanic / Latino
- Unavailable
Q: How often will data be updated?
A: The data displayed on the dashboards are updated quarterly.
Q: Will additional data and dashboards become available in the future?
A: Yes, additional dashboards are scheduled for release in the future. Additional data elements will be collected beginning in October 2025 and reflected in new and existing dashboards starting in 2026. These enhancements will expand the scope of firearm-related data available to the public and improve visibility of crime gun activity and enforcement outcomes. Future dashboards will focus on the demographics of those offenders arrested with a crime gun, as well as information about the seized firearms.
Q: Why is the disposition of “Not Guilty” not available as a filter in the dashboard?
A: The data for the Firearm Incidents - Offender Demographic Data and Firearm Incidents - Disposition Information by Offense Severity dashboards are sourced from the Massachusetts Trial Courts via the MA Criminal Justice Cross-Tracking System. As such, the system may only display dispositions for information reported by the Massachusetts Trial Court. In accordance with M.G.L. c. 276, § 100C “not guilty” dispositions are subject to automatic sealing and are not made available by the Massachusetts Trial Court.
Q: What type of criminal history information is available in the Data dashboard?
A: The data for the Firearm Incidents – Offender Demographic Data dashboard are sourced from the Massachusetts Trial Courts via the MA Criminal Justice Cross-Tracking System. This system includes adult Criminal Offender Record Information (“CORI”) records from Massachusetts Superior, District, and Boston Municipal Courts in the Commonwealth. This data source does not presently include de-identified juvenile records. De-identified records pertaining to a individuals under the age of eighteen are only made available for juveniles that have had their cases transferred out of the juvenile courts to the Superior Court and have been “adjudicated as an adult” as defined in M.G.L. c. 6, § 167 and authorized under M.G.L. c. 6, § 172.