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What is CrimeStoppers?
CrimeStoppers began in Albuquerque,
New Mexico in
September 1976 and is a partnership of the community, the media
and law enforcement designed to combat crime and keep our streets
safe.
Today there are some
1,200 CrimeStoppers programs in communities around the world that
take tips to assist investigators to solve crimes, including homicides,
sexual assaults, drug trafficking operations and robberies, just
to name a few. Programs have also received information that has
prevented school shootings and criminal acts by terrorist
organizations.
CrimeStoppers programs
are operated as not for profit charities and are managed by a
volunteer board of directors who take responsibility for
fundraising and paying rewards to individuals who anonymously
call with information that helps solve crime.
Rewards are paid for
tips that lead to the arrest and indictment of people charged
with felony offenses and to date, CrimeStoppers statistics show a
conviction rate of some 95 percent.
Why Do We Need
CrimeStoppers?
Because CrimeStoppers works. It is an extremely effective crime
fighting concept which solves crime and keeps our streets safe.
Statistics show an
average conviction rate of 95 percent and tips to CrimeStoppers
save law enforcement agencies thousands of dollars in
investigation time.
The following
statistics for St. Louis
Regional CrimeStoppers Tip Hotline 2006 Program Statistics Data
for the first year.
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Program Statistics
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2006
- Present
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NUMBER OF TIPS/CALLS
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1372
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CASES
CLEARED
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113
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TOTAL
NUMBER OF CHARGES LAID
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271
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NUMBER
OF FUGITIVE CHARGES
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99
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NUMBER
OF ARREST MADE
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101
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NUMBER
OF REWARDS PAID
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22
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NUMBER
OF WEAPONS RECOVERED
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14
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VALUE
OF REWARDS APPROVED
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$25,590.00
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VALUE
OF DRUGS SEIZED
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$6,721,990.00
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TOTAL
VALUE OF PROPERTY RECOVERED
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$6,876,025.00
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The success of CrimeStoppers
programs cannot be purely judged on statistics, and other
benefits are clearly generated:
- A greater awareness in the community that we can
address and solve the crime problem
- A willingness by the community to fight back against
crime if it is given the opportunity and motivation
- Improved relationships between police, media and the
community
How Does CrimeStoppers
Work?
There is always someone
who has information that can help solve crime. Those are the
people who can call CrimeStoppers anonymously and provide a tip
that will help investigators identify those responsible.
In any investigation
police and other law enforcement agencies encounter individuals
who will not directly provide information.
The three key reason
are:
1. Fear of reprisal
2. An attitude of apathy
3. Reluctance to get
involved
CrimeStoppers breaks
through these barriers by giving people the opportunity to
provide information without directly speaking to police or having
to testify in court. Obviously investigators need witnesses to help
prove their case in court, but most importantly they need
information that allows them to zero in on a suspect or a
criminal operation, such as a drug trafficking network.
Calls are received at
the local CrimeStoppers tips line phone. This phone is a standalone
instrument which does not provide caller ID, and conversations
are not recorded. The CrimeStoppers police or civilian
coordinator receiving the information completes the tips
information form, makes initial inquiries and then passes the
information to the investigating officer.
By guaranteeing a
caller’s anonymity, CrimeStoppers allows the caller to give
information in a positive atmosphere without the prospect of
retribution. By offering cash rewards for information
leading to indictment or arrests, the program encourages
otherwise reluctant callers to provide information. Cash rewards
from CrimeStoppers also motivate some people to call anonymously
with information that will be vital to investigators.
Three partners are
essential to a CrimeStoppers program
The Community
Citizens form the
foundation of a local CrimeStoppers program. There are people who
serve as volunteer directors on the CrimeStoppers board with
responsibility to operate the non-profit corporation, raise funds
and approve reward payments when crimes are solved. Members of
the public support CrimeStoppers at public events and through
other fundraising activities. And there are others who call
CrimeStoppers when they have information that will solve crime.
The Media
Local media outlets
have responsibility for promoting CrimeStoppers by publicizing
unsolved crimes and assisting with appeals to raise funds for the
program. On an ongoing basis, newspapers, radio and television
stations in the community undertake to broadcast a Crime of the
Week, which highlights an unsolved case. The media also regularly
promotes the special CrimeStoppers phone number.
The Police
The Police appoint a
coordinator to oversee the CrimeStoppers program on a daily basis
and work with hired staff to maintain an office that takes tips
on the CrimeStoppers line. Callers are never asked to identify
themselves and there is no equipment in the office that records
voices or traces telephone numbers. Anonymity is guaranteed.
Those who call CrimeStoppers receive a code number that allows
them to claim a reward once an arrest has been made. The police
are also required to investigate the various CrimeStoppers tips
and report back to the coordinator when a case is solved.
Structure and Funding
of CrimeStoppers
Crime Stopper programs
are organized as a not-for-profit organization (charity). A
civilian community board of directors provides direction as to
the financial and promotional activities of the program. The
board of directors enhances the community involvement aspect, and
its function is vital to the program’s success. The CrimeStoppers
program is funded by private donations and fund raising. NO TAX
DOLLARS are involved. The reward money paid out by the program is
from the fund raising and donations from concerned citizens and
businesses. A community board of directors, made up of persons
from throughout the area, meets on a monthly basis to evaluate
arrests and to decide on the size of rewards to be paid, up to
$1,000. Rewards are then distributed in a private manner to the
callers. Callers are eligible for rewards up to $1,000 but
despite this, many callers choose not to collect their rewards.
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