Welcome to the Texas Violent Death Reporting System (TVDRS). Texas joined the Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC)
National Violent Death Reporting System in January of 2019. TVDRS takes part in CDC’s national system to link insights about violent death data, including why they occurred.
Our mission is to use violent death data to inform decisions that save lives.
NVDRS is the only state-based surveillance (reporting) system that pools more than 600 unique data elements from multiple sources into a usable, anonymous database. NVDRS includes all types of violent deaths – including homicides and suicides – in all settings for all age groups.
Texas data will be available in late 2021.
How can TVDRS data be used to prevent violent death?
Inform decision makers about the magnitude, trends, and characteristics of violent deaths.
Educate communities about circumstances that contribute to violence.
Help Decision Makers and Program Planners develop and enhance comprehensive violence prevention efforts to maximize benefits.
Linking Data to Save Lives
Frontline investigators including law enforcement, justices of the peace and medical examiners collect valuable information about violent deaths. However, these data points are seldom linked to provide a complete picture of violent death.
The Texas Violent Death Reporting System (TVDRS) collects data from death certificates, justice of the peace/medical examiner reports, law enforcement reports, and toxicology reports into one anonymous database.
Data elements collected provide valuable background about violent deaths, such as relationship problems; mental health conditions and treatment; toxicology results; and life stressors, including recent money- or work-related problems or physical health problems. Such data are far more comprehensive than what other collection systems provide. Decision-makers and program planners can use this information to develop and tailor violence prevention efforts.
Contact TVDRS
Your questions are important to us. For the most efficient response on TVDRS data, please email us at
tvdrs@dshs.texas.gov.