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.

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