Crime Stoppers

Introduction

Crime Stoppers is viewed by its membership as being a partnership of community, law enforcement, and the media. Citizens within the community provide organizational and financial support for program activities and the funding of reward payments for crime information. Local law enforcement agencies act on tips received through phone and Web hotlines to solve crimes and apprehend fugitives. The media (print, broadcast, and Web based) provide free information on criminal events, unsolved crimes, wanted fugitives, and crime prevention activities. Each partner is seen as essential to the success of Crime Stoppers.

History

Crime Stoppers traces its origins back to 1976 when an Albuquerque, New Mexico, police detective ran a television reenactment soliciting information in regard to the unsolved murder of a college student. Detective Greg MacAleese offered a reward for anonymous tips that would lead to the arrest of those responsible for the murder. The success of this strategy in solving the case and arresting the murderers led to further collaborations among the Albuquerque Police Department, local media, and concerned citizens. Similar outcomes in other cases resulted in the creation of the first Crime Stoppers chapter (Lab, p. 54-64).

The achievements of Crime Stoppers in Albuquerque were quickly noted by other communities. Soon other cities were developing local chapters that televised crime reenactments, posting crime details in newspapers, and offering rewards for anonymous tips. Within a few years, local and state chapters could be found across the United States and Canada. Now local Crime Stoppers programs are located around the world. National/regional programs (such as Crime Stoppers USA) can be found in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, Bermuda, Latin America, Europe, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the Western Pacific region. Crime Stoppers International, headquartered in Austin, Texas, serves as the umbrella organization for programs worldwide.

Purpose

The primary goal of local Crime Stoppers is to provide citizens with an anonymous means to assist law enforcement in apprehending criminals and in helping to make their communities safer places to live. Crime Stoppers seeks to eliminate the fear of reprisals against those who provide information by stressing anonymity. They strive to reduce citizen apathy by promoting community awareness and shared responsibility for public safety. They attempt to overcome reluctance to get involved by offering cash rewards. Through these efforts Crime Stoppers view themselves as being the connection between community residents who want to fight against crime (without having their identity revealed) and law enforcement, which needs ...