How it Works
The Phone Call
Calls are received on our Crime Stoppers tip phone. This phone is a stand alone instrument which does not provide caller ID, and conversations are not recorded. The law enforcement agency receiving the information completes the tip information form, makes initial inquiries, and then passes the information to the investigating officer.
By guaranteeing a caller's anonymity, Stateline Area Crime Stoppers allows the caller to give information in a positive atmosphere without the prospect of retribution. By offering cash rewards for information leading to arrests, the program encourages otherwise reluctant callers to provide information.
Tips From our Web or our P3 Mobile Application
Stateline Area Crime Stoppers recently added new software to make it easier for citizens to submit tips. You can find links on our website and Facebook page that allows viewers to click and submit tips. Tipsters can include pictures and other information from their their mobile phones. An application called P3 Tips can also be downloaded from an ap store.
Structure and Funding of Crime Stoppers
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 programs success.
Stateline Area Crime Stoppers program is funded by court ordered fines, 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, meet 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.
Does Crime Stoppers Work?
The answer is quite simply, yes. Since the start of Crime Stoppers, many calls have been received resulting in thousands of arrests and recovery of substantial amounts of property. Calls have included information about murder, robbery, rape, assaults, drugs and firearm offenses.
The success of a Crime Stoppers program cannot be purely judged on statistics, however, other benefits include:
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A greater awareness in the community that there is a crime problem.
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A willingness by the community to fight back against crime if it is given the opportunity and motivation.
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Improved relationships between police, media, and the community.
Crime Stoppers is definitely here to stay. It has been accepted by police as a valid and effective investigative tool and the public, through its overwhelming response, appears to have accepted it as a more acceptable alternative to traditional methods of giving information.