At a glance
- National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) data can be accessed two different ways on CDC.gov, both free of charge: through a public query portal or by applying for access to the NVDRS Restricted Access Database (RAD).
- Basic data can be accessed via the Web-based Injury Statistics and Query System (WISQARS) NVDRS.
- Those needing more detailed data must apply for access to the NVDRS Restricted Access Database (RAD).
WISQARS Violent Deaths (NVDRS) Module
The Web-based Injury Statistics and Query System (WISQARS) provides data on fatal and nonfatal injuries in the United States. It is a free interactive resource that is open to everyone.
The NVDRS module in WISQARS gives descriptive information on violent deaths and suicides from participating states and jurisdictions.
Within this module, you can view incident counts and rates by manner of death and cause of injury. Searches can be customized to include specific states or jurisdictions, years, age ranges, sex, and racial or ethnic groups of interest. Further information is available on circumstances associated with deaths, type of location where the incident occurred, relationship between victim and suspected perpetrator, and more.
NVDRS Restricted Access Database (RAD)
The NVDRS Restricted Access Database (RAD) is a free, multi-jurisdiction, case-level data set with hundreds of unique variables. Violent deaths and suicide cases are are given additional context with descriptions from law enforcement and coroner/medical examiner reports.
Although the data is de-identified, the RAD contains confidential details about incidents in NVDRS. If you would like access to the RAD, you must meet certain eligibility requirements and take steps to ensure confidentiality and data security.
Eligible applicants must prepare and submit a proposal for review. The ability of the applicant to conduct the proposed analyses (e.g., whether the requested NVDRS data is appropriate for the proposed analysis or whether the applicant has access to external datasets they propose linking with NVDRS data) and to comply with NVDRS RAD security, confidentiality, and data protection requirements is considered during the proposal package review process.
An NVDRS dataset is now available that links to two national datasets—County Health Rankings & Roadmaps and the Minority Health Social Vulnerability Index-that capture key community characteristics and conditions. Integrating these data sources with NVDRS enhances our understanding of how community characteristics and conditions may contribute to or precipitate violent deaths and suicides. This linked dataset is available upon request via RAD proposal.
Please be aware, CDC staff cannot help applicants with analytical or other technical assistance.
Access to NVDRS RAD will only be granted to applicants and collaborators that demonstrate training in and understanding of the ethical use of protected, sensitive data, which includes any of the following criteria:
- Current completed Institutional Review Board (IRB) or similar ethical data use training (for example, Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative);
- Earned a master's degree or higher in a relevant field (e.g., public health, criminal justice, medicine);
- Hold a public health or research position or faculty appointment at his/her institution. This includes employees of local, county, tribal, state, and federal governments or other public health authorities.
All applicants and collaborators must agree to comply with NVDRS RAD security, confidentiality, and data protection requirements, as outlined during the review process. Eligible applicants must prepare and submit a proposal. The ability of the applicant to conduct the proposed analyses and to comply with NVDRS RAD security, confidentiality, and data protection requirements is considered during the proposal package review process.
The proposal package must include the following items:
- Cover letter on official home institution letterhead.
- Project proposal (see project proposal requirements section below).
- File specifications sheet, indicating all variables being requested.
- Copy of the NVDRS Data Sharing Agreement signed by all collaborators who will be working on the RAD project, regardless of whether they will be accessing the RAD dataset.
- Copy of the NVDRS RAD proposal checklist with the applicant's initials next to each item acknowledging understanding and agreement.
Submit the package to NVDRS RAD at nvdrs-rad@cdc.gov.
The project proposal shall be 2-4 pages and must include the following:
- Project title.
- Abstract summarizing the proposed project (maximum of 250 words).
- Full personal identification, degree(s), position or appointment type, institutional affiliation, mailing addresses, and email address of the applicant. Applicants will be primarily responsible for the care of the data and for ensuring and monitoring compliance with the terms of the data sharing agreement.
- Names, degrees, roles/positions, institutional affiliations, and email addresses of all other collaborators.
- Source of funding for the proposed project. If not funded, please note "N/A" for this section.
- Background of study (maximum of 250 words):
- Dataset being used (NVDRS or the NVDRS community characteristics-linked dataset). Only one option can be chosen.
- Key study questions or hypotheses.
- Public health benefits: Requestors must provide evidence that there is a legitimate public health purpose that justifies the use of the data.
- Explanation of why this project requires NVDRS data specifically. What unique aspect(s) of NVDRS data are needed for this project that are not available through other data sources?
- Methods for the study (maximum of 700 words)
- Summary of the variables needed for the proposed public health project. A file specifications sheet that lists available variables in the NVDRS RAD will be provided prior to submitting the proposal and should be used for this purpose. This sheet with requested variables should be returned with the proposal.
- If sensitive variables (as marked on the file specifications sheet) are being requested, sufficient justification for their request (i.e., explanation of why the variables are needed to answer study questions) must be included in the proposal.
- In addition to specifying the requested NVDRS variables, any data from other sources that might be merged with NVDRS data should be described. The NVDRS dataset cannot be merged with or linked to other sources that have personally identifiable information (PII) as it could potentially result in the identification of individuals. If your proposal is a linkage project, only probabilistic linkages are allowed. A description of the data source(s), how the source(s) will be linked to NVDRS, and written confirmation that no PII are included in the linked data are required.
- Proposed analytic strategy (e.g., statistical analysis, data linkages).
- Data management plan (maximum of 500 words).
- Description of the mechanisms that will be in place to secure the data, preserve confidentiality, and prevent unauthorized access. These mechanisms are to include the data storage plan, limitations on access to the data, technical security practices such as password protection, use of stand-alone computers, encryption, and procedures covering networked computers and servers.
- Description of the destruction of all NVDRS RAD files, and any files derived from the RAD dataset that was provided, when the approved use of the data will have been completed.
- Description of the anticipated public health products, reports, and publications to be derived from the data analyses proposed (maximum of 250 words).
The NVDRS RAD review committee consists of a panel of scientific and data analysis experts within CDC.
The committee will review proposals to ensure they meet the data confidentiality requirements established to protect the confidentiality of the data.
The following criteria will be assessed for each proposal:
- Scientific and technical feasibility of the study.
- Qualifications of applicants and collaborators.
- Consistency between requested data and study goals.
- Description of any additional data that will be linked to NVDRS RAD data.
- Anticipated publications or other dissemination of results.
- Risk of disclosure of restricted information.
- Protections in place to maintain confidentiality of the data.
- A legitimate public health purpose being served by use of the data.
The committee reviews proposals as they are received, and typically responds within three-four weeks. The review of complex projects that require extensive communication between NVDRS staff and the applicants may take longer to complete. When a proposal is approved, the applicant will be notified and will receive the data via secure FTP (file transfer protocol).
Applicants are permitted to conduct only those analyses that have received approval. Requests to add data years to an existing project that has been approved will be expedited; in this case, a committee review is not required.
CDC reserves the right to deny or terminate any project at any time when it deems an applicant's actions may compromise confidentiality or ethical standards of behavior. Failure to comply will result in the cancellation of the project and exclusion from future projects using the NVDRS RAD.
Contact the NVDRS RAD team at nvdrs-rad@cdc.gov to:
- Ask questions and further information about the NVDRS RAD.
- Request the proposal package materials.
- Submit the proposal package.