CrimeStoppers is a program that involves the public, the media, and the police in the fight against crime. It offers anonymity and cash rewards to people who furnish information leading to the arrest and indictment of felony crime offenders.
Anonymity overcomes fear of involvement, and cash overcomes apathy.
Local law enforcement agencies conduct CrimeStoppers investigations, but a board of directors made up of citizens from a broad cross-section of the community is responsible for establishing CrimeStoppers' policy, raising funds, and determining the amount and method of reward payments. The CrimeStoppers programs are nonprofit corporations funded by contributions from the community. The CrimeStoppers coordinator, who is a police officer, processes information received through a special CrimeStoppers telephone line. Callers, who never have to give their names, are given code numbers. When a caller's information leads to an arrest, the caller again contacts the CrimeStoppers coordinator to establish a method of payment.