Since 2002, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has funded select states to collect information on violent deaths as part of the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS). Violent deaths include homicides, suicides, accidental deaths from firearms, deaths related to terrorism, deaths from legal intervention, and those of undetermined intent. Georgia’s system, named the Georgia Violent Death Reporting System (GA-VDRS), has been funded since 2003.
GA-VDRS is part of the national system, NVDRS, that was built upon an earlier pilot system, the National Violent Injury Statistics System (NVISS). Emory University participated in NVISS and collected data on violent deaths in Fulton and DeKalb Counties.
The following data sources are included in the Georgia violent death reporting system:
- Death certificates
- Medical examiner and/or coroner records
- Police records (Supplemental Homicide Reports at a minimum)
- Crime laboratory records
The GA-VDRS uses the uniform data elements developed by CDC in collaboration with funded states.
Goals
- To generate public health surveillance information at the state and local levels that is more detailed, useful, and timely than is currently available.
- To use data to develop, inform, and evaluate violence prevention strategies at both state and local levels.
Georgia Violent Death Reporting System: "You Matter" Workshop
The Georgia Violent Death Reporting System "You Matter" workshop was held on June 13, 2019 at the Middle Georgia State University, 100 University Parkway, Macon, Georgia 31206. The meeting hosted 63 participants including Coroners, Medical Examiners, Law Enforcement, Public Health Professionals, Nurses and Social Workers. The purpose of the workshop was to facilitate GA-VDRS providers in working together to enhance coroner and law enforcement engagement in the Georgia Violent Death Reporting System.
Workshop Agenda/Presentations
Violent Death Reporting System Coding Manual 
This manual explains how variables are coded with the National Violent Death Reporting System.
2008-2012 Violent Deaths in Georgia Report
This report provides the results from five years of data from GA-VDRS. Results are presented for Violent Deaths overall, Homicides, and Suicides. Within each section, you will find information includes age-adjusted rates by year, sex, race/ethnicity, public health district and judicial district, as well as age-specific rates by sex, distribution of weapon type by sex, circumstances, and toxicology results.
Georgia Violent Death Reporting System Brochure
This brochure provides the reasons for and the goals of the GA-VDRS, the definition of violent deaths, data sources for the GA-VDRS, and results from the most recent five years.
2016 Georgia Violent Death Advisory Committee Meeting Presentation
This presentation was given to the Georgia Violent Death Advisory Committee on January 20, 2016. The results of an analysis of Georgia violent death data from 2008 to 2012 for all violent deaths, homicides, and suicides.
Reports and Summaries
2011 Surveillance Report: Violent Deaths in Georgia, 2006-2009 
2006-2009 Suicide Data Summary
2006-2009 Homicide Data Summary
Archived GVDRS Reports and Summaries
Related Sites
National Violent Death Reporting System
Page Last Updated 10/03/2019