Why do we need Crime Stoppers

* Crime Stoppers provides the means for concerned citizens to report information about a crime and remain anonymous without the detection of criminals. It also prevents crimes by making communities aware of those types of crimes occurring in their area, so they can better protect themselves from those crimes, and recognize when crimes are occurring. Many times people are often unaware of the importance of what they have seen. Crime Stoppers media publications and announcements help people realize that what they witnessed was a crime and that they may possess valuable information to help solve the case.

Three Essential Partners Why do we need Crime Stoppers

* Crime Stoppers provides the means for concerned citizens to report information about a crime and remain anonymous without the detection of criminals. It also prevents crimes by making communities aware of those types of crimes occurring in their area, so they can better protect themselves from those crimes, and recognize when crimes are occurring. Many times people are often unaware of the importance of what they have seen. Crime Stoppers media publications and announcements help people realize that what they witnessed was a crime and that they may possess valuable information to help solve the case.

Three Essential Partners

* 1. The Community
* 2. The Media
* 3. Law Enforcement

The Community

* Citizens form the foundation of a Crime Stoppers Program. Citizen volunteers serve on the Board of Directors with the responsibility to operate the program, raise funds, and approve reward payments when crimes are solved. Members of the board support Crime Stoppers at public events and through fund raising activities. Others in the community will participate by utilizing the Crime Stoppers Tip Line to help solve crimes in our community. Citizens may join the crime stoppers program or may be accepted as a board member.

The Media

* Local media outlets have responsibility for promoting Crime Stoppers by publicizing unsolved crimes and assisting with appeals to raise funds for the program. On an ongoing basis newspapers, radio, and TV stations in the community undertake a Crime of the Month which highlights an unsolved case. The newspaper will run weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly ads with crime prevention tips and most wanted persons. The media also regularly promotes the special Crime Stoppers phone number.

Law Enforcement

* Appoints a coordinator to operate the Crime Stoppers program on a daily basis. Provides the phone line for the callers to leave anonymous tips. Callers are never asked to identify themselves and there is no equipment in the office that traces phone numbers. Those who call Crime Stoppers receive a code number that allows them to claim a reward once an arrest has been made. A civilian employee takes Crime Stoppers tips and reports them to the coordinator who follows up on the tip. The police do not have to pay for advertising. Funds are provided or raised by the Citizen Board of Directors.

The Role of the Police Coordinator

* Coordinate with investigators to determine the status of their investigation and if additional information is needed from callers.
* Keep the Crime Stoppers Tips file updated and accurate.
* Maintain statistics for the program (number of calls, cases solved, property recovered, narcotics seized, etc)
* Promote the Crime Stoppers program within the law enforcement agency and the community.
* Appear with members of the Crime Stoppers Board of Directors at public speaking functions.
* Recommend to the Board cases to publicize as “Crime of the Month”
* Work with the local media to ensure that the Crime Stoppers program is advertised.
* Meet with the Citizen Board of Directors on a monthly basis.

Current Statistics

* First meeting Dec. 2007
* 52 cases approved by the Board
* 32 arrests made and cases closed
* Cases that have offender’s name and a photo have a 95 % clearance rate
* Overall clearance rate 62%

The Board of Directors

* The Board of Directors represents the community in the three part coalition between law enforcement, the community and the media that is known as Crime Stoppers.
* When Crime Stoppers is organized as a non-profit corporation, the Board of Directors is recognized by the courts as the legal entity representing Crime Stoppers.

Board of Directors

* Create policies for the Crime Stoppers Program (Bylaws)
* Raise funds for the rewards
* Determine the amount of rewards
* Ensure that rewards are paid
* Promote the program
* Maintain files and records of the program

Crime Stoppers is a Non Profit Organization

Some of the reasons why a Crime Stoppers Program should be a non-profit corporation:

* It limits the liability of the Board members
* It makes it easier to obtain tax-exempt status from federal and state authorities
* Donations to the program are tax-deductible
* The books and records of the corporation will be free from open records laws that apply to government agencies
* It creates continuity for the organization

Dublin / Laurens Crime Stoppers

* Bi-Weekly Crime Stoppers information page (full page) in the Courier Herald paid for by advertisements solicited by the newspaper.
* Mug shots, most wanted, cold cases, letter from the Chief, crime prevention tips, photographs of stolen property on this page in the paper.
* Radio time slots scheduled on WQZY, WKKZ, WMLT, 1330,
* Section of Behind the Badge donated to Crime Stoppers
* Information on webpage
* TV-35 commercials and information ads