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ABSTRACT
Computer technology enables communities to synthesize large, complex, and disparate datasets into a centralized database. Such integration can provide a community with essential information on rates, trends, and risk factors associated with a particular social problem. This article will discuss the development and implementation of the Violence Information Network, a community database devoted to the surveillance of violence and its related factors. The VIN development is presented as a prototype on which communities can design information databases tailored to their specific needs. The challenges encountered during development are discussed. Future directions for the VIN are also highlighted.