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Connecticut Violent Death Reporting System (CTVDRS)

Background Advisory Board and Meetings | Fact Sheets and Publications | Data Requests | Responses to Community Questions

The Connecticut Violent Death Reporting System (CTVDRS) was established in 2014 and is maintained through a cooperative agreement with the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and housed in the Connecticut Department of Public Health Office of Injury and Violence Prevention. This standardized database is part of the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) developed and funded by the CDC. Currently, NVDRS is implemented in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. The goal of NVDRS is to provide states and communities with a clearer understanding of violent deaths. A thorough understanding of the complex circumstances surrounding these violent deaths will provide useful information in the development of prevention strategies. NVDRS provides insight into the potential points for intervention and ways to evaluate and improve violence prevention efforts.

The CTVDRS is an incident-based, relational database that combines information from multiple sources. Together, these multiple sources provide comprehensive context and answers to the questions (who, what, when, where, and why) leading to violent deaths.

Main data sources include:

Medical examiners' reports (including the toxicology reports),
Death certificates, and
Law enforcement reports (state and local)

 

Violent deaths:

According to the NVDRS definition, a violent death is a death that results from the intentional use of physical force or power, threatened or actual, against oneself, another person, or a group or community. Violent deaths include:

Homicides
Suicides
Deaths by legal intervention
Unintentional firearm injury deaths, and
Injury deaths of undetermined intent

 

All violent deaths occurring in Connecticut and violent deaths of Connecticut residents occurring out of state are included in the CTVDRS.

 

CTVDRS mission statement:

“Our mission is to collect, analyze, and disseminate accurate and comprehensive de-identified, aggregate Information of violent deaths in Connecticut to inform effective and efficient prevention strategies and public policies necessary for public safety and community well-being.”

 

CTVDRS Advisory Board

An advisory board was created at the beginning of the CTVDRS project to facilitate the development and monitor the ongoing progress of the project. The board meets quarterly and focuses on providing technical advice and, when necessary, offering strategic support in data procurement. In addition, the board will assist in the development and articulation of effective violent death prevention strategies including problem identification, policy development, and evaluation.

CTVDRS Advisory Board Members
2023 CTVDRS AB Meeting
CTVDRS AB Presentation: CT Violent Deaths 2015-2021


CTVDRS Reports, Fact Sheets, and Publications

Gun Violence Intervention and Prevention Committee Report, 12/30/2021

 

CTVDRS Presentations

Homicide Victimology in Connecticut 2015-2021 – October 15, 2021 
CTVDRS 2015-2021 to CTSAB Region 5 - June 6, 2022
CTVDRS 2015-2021 to Alcohol & Drug Policy Council - July 18, 2022
CDC Site Visit - August, 2024


NVDRS Publications

Surveillance for Violent Deaths — National Violent Death Reporting System, 39 States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, 2018


CTVDRS Data Requests

If you would like to request aggregate data about violent deaths in Connecticut, please complete the form here. An example of a completed data request form can be seen here.

Analysis of Suicide and Homicide Data in Connecticut (2019-2023)

Homicide Data in Connecticut (2020-2023)

 

CTVDRS Responses to Community Questions

   

1. Q: What is the rate of death by legal intervention in Connecticut from 2015 to 2019 by race/ethnicity?

A: CTVDRS_response_legal_interventions

 

2. Q: What are the consequences of marijuana use with the comorbidity of mental illness and hospitalizations from marijuana intoxication?

A: CTVDRS_response_marijuana_diagnoses_and_mental_illness


For more information, please call

The Office of Injury and Violence Prevention 

(860) 509-8251