Crime Stoppers

Crime Stoppers offers a cash reward to anonymous persons who call the Crime Stoppers hot line with information that leads to the arrest and indictment of the person(s) responsible for felony offenses. The Crime Stoppers program averages a conviction rate of 95% on cases solved by Crime Stoppers tips. Worldwide, Crime Stoppers programs have solved over half a million crimes and recovered over 3 billion dollars worth of stolen property and narcotics.

The program was created to combat the three major problems faced by law enforcement in generating that information: fear of reprisal, reluctance to get involved, and an attitude of apathy. Crime Stoppers helps resolve these problems by offering anonymity to people who provide information about crimes, and paying rewards when a Crime Stopper tip leads to an arrest and indictment of a person(s) who commits a felony.

Three Essential Elements Make Up a Crime Stoppers Program

• The Community

Citizens are responsible for forming a Crime Stoppers non-profit organization, whose directors establish policy, determine the amount and method of reward payments, work closely with the police and the media, and generally oversee the program. The directors are also responsible for fundraising and all volunteer service.

• The Media

Crime Stoppers' objectives, successes, and phone numbers are publicized on a regular basis by the media. An unsolved "Crime of the Week" is given special treatment with details published in newspapers, on the radio, and in certain cases, a re-enactment on TV.

• The Police

A special Crime Stoppers phone with a well-publicized number is provided to the community. Callers are assigned a special code number and never provide their names. If the information leads to an arrest and indictment of a felony offender, the caller is entitled to a reward.

North Carolina Crime Stoppers Association

The North Carolina Crime Stoppers Association was formed in 1991 as an umbrella organization for Crime Stoppers programs in our state. The association furthers the goals of Crime Stoppers programs by providing annual training seminars which focus on fund-raising, promotion, and operation of individual programs.