Media Advisory

CDC Releases National Violent Death Reporting System Data

First Report of 16 states participating in system

What:

Release of "Surveillance for Violent Deaths — National Violent Death Reporting System, 16 States, 2005." The surveillance summary includes data related to homicides, suicides, deaths of undetermined intent, and unintentional firearm deaths. The summary also provides an overview of special topics, including: incidents of homicide followed by suicide; infant and child deaths; intimate partner homicide; legal intervention; and suicides among former and current military personnel.

NVDRS provides experts with a more comprehensive picture of the circumstances surrounding violent deaths. The system combines information from toxicology reports, crime reports, medical/coroners reports, death certificates, and other reports related to each death and provides clues about involvement of intimate partner conflict; mental health problems, diagnosis, or treatment; and drug or alcohol use at the time of violent death.

Who:

The data in this report was collected by 16 states: Alaska, Colorado, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Utah, Wisconsin, and Virginia. NVDRS is funded in 17 states, however data from California was not included because NVDRS has only been implemented in a limited number of California counties.

When:

The April 11, 2008 issue of MMWR Surveillance Summaries will be available online:
Thursday, April 10, 2008 at 12:00 p.m. ET

The full report and information about the NVDRS can be found on the CDC Injury Center's website at www.cdc.gov/injury.

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES