Crime Stoppers - Perhaps the World's Most Effective Crime Fighting Tool

Disclaimer:
The views expressed herein are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the Department of Justice Canada.

At Crime Stoppers, we never meet the victim, talk to the victim, see their face, comfort them or observe the tears, anger or frustration that victims go through when a crime is committed. The only exception would be if a victim is publicly identified in the media. Then, we would see them, but would never contact or communicate with them directly.

This is very deliberate, as we deal in anonymity and need to keep it that way in order to maintain the effectiveness of our program. Our measure of success, which in turn can provide comfort to a victim, is when we are able to play a role in helping to bring the perpetrator of a crime to justice.

Our assistance, which is provided by helping to solve crime, is perhaps the best service we can anonymously give to victims and help them realize they are not forgotten. Working with our law enforcement partners, we help ensure justice eventually prevails.

So, how exactly does Crime Stoppers do it? Crime Stoppers indirectly makes sure that victims are never forgotten. Crime Stoppers is a civilian, non-profit, charitable organization that brings together, in a tri-partite relationship, law enforcement, the media and the community in the fight against crime. Our goal is to help prevent, stop and solve crime together in our respective communities making them, in turn, safer places. We also work to bring the perpetrators of crime to justice, which helps victims rest easier.

Cash rewards are offered to tipsters who call Crime Stoppers and provide information which leads to an arrest and a charge being laid. Tips are provided anonymously, which we believe helps to ensure that information is forthcoming to police.

There are now more than 1,000 Crime Stoppers programs operating in 22 countries around the world. Crime Stoppers operates with a civilian board made up of volunteers who also help to fundraise for the rewards that are paid out to tipsters.

Crime Stoppers dates back more than 30 years, In July 1976, in Albuquerque New Mexico, a university student was shot and killed during a gas station robbery. After six weeks of investigation, the police had no leads as to who was responsible for the crime. A young detective named Greg McAleese thought that someone in the community must know something about the crime. He reasoned that, if he could provide an anonymous way for the information to be passed on to police, it might result in an arrest. He convinced his Chief of Police and a local TV station to publicize the crime and secured a separate, non-police phone number for tipsters to call. The very next day after the re-enactment was aired, someone contacted the detective. The information they provided was enough to lead police to the two men who were responsible for the shooting. Within 72 hours of the re-enactment being aired, the crime had been solved. Interestingly, information was also passed on about other crimes not related to the shooting which resulted in other unsolved crimes being solved. This was the beginning of Crime Stoppers, and from that day forward, the program has spread around the world.

Worldwide, more than 850,000 arrests have been made as a result of tips to Crime Stoppers. Almost $7 billion worth of drugs has been seized and almost $2 billion worth of stolen property has been recovered.

Crime Stoppers tip lines are staffed by trained personnel who receive, process and pass along tips to investigating officers. Callers are given a code number or name, which is then used for identification purposes if a reward is eventually paid out. Callers never have to identify themselves.

In Canada, a reward of up to $2,000 is offered to anyone who provides information which leads to an arrest for a crime. Rewards can also be paid for information leading to the recovery of stolen property, the seizure of illegal drugs or an arrest on an outstanding warrant.

The media is an important partner of Crime Stoppers helping to provide the public with information about outstanding crimes and asking for tips to be passed on to police. Crime Stoppers makes use of traditional media, such as newspapers, television and radio, as well as new social media networks, such as Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.

Tips are, in most cases, given to the local Crime Stoppers programs by phone, via the Web or by text messaging. All of the ways by which to give tips to Crime Stoppers preserve the anonymity of the tipster.

1-800-222-TIPS (8477), which is the North American toll-free number for Crime Stoppers, is perhaps the best way for the public to provide information which can help victims by bringing the perpetrators of crime to justice. So, while we don't directly deal with victims of crime, everyone at Crime Stoppers does very much care about victims and we are all proud to be helping.