Crimestoppers

Shoals Area Crime Stoppers Logo and Tip Line.

Local Crime Stoppers programs are non-profit organizations led by citizens against crime. Some Crime Stoppers programs offer cash rewards of up to $1000 to persons providing anonymous information that leads to the felony arrest of criminals and fugitives. Information is received through anonymous Crime Stoppers tips that are received through a secure tips line. Each caller is assigned a code number for the purpose of ensuring anonymity.

Crime Stoppers is based on the principle that someone other than the criminal has information that can solve a crime and was created to combat the three major problems faced by law enforcement in generating that information:

Fear of REPRISAL
An attitude of APATHY
Reluctance to get INVOLVED

Crime Stoppers resolves these problems by:

Offering ANONYMITY to people who provide information about crimes.
Paying REWARDS when the information supplied leads to arrest.

Crime Stoppers was the brainchild of a young Albuquerque detective who was concerned by the number of unsolved cases he and fellow detectives were working, and was particularly frustrated that all possible leads had been exhausted regarding the murder of a young college student. He felt information that would solve the crime was available from someone other than the criminal. That principle led to the major factors that needed to be addressed so individuals would come forward.

Members of the local community, media and law enforcement, came together in partnership to begin the effort to provide crime-solving assistance to law enforcement, and the first Crime Stoppers program was born on September 8, 1976.

A cash reward was offered to individuals that provided anonymous tips to Crime Stoppers with information which would lead to the arrest of the person(s) responsible for the crime. The local media publicized the first "Crime of the Week" and the phone number to call with the information. A call received by the program resulted in the arrest of three men, within 72 hours, who had been involved in the homicide of the young college student that had occurred 4 months earlier.

Today, community and student Crime Stoppers programs reach around the world and are represented by the Nation/Regions of theUnited States,Canada, Caribbean and Latin America, Europe,Australia, and the South/Western Pacific.

The Crime Stoppers program has enjoyed great success with the information received which has led to the arrest and indictment of those responsible for committing felony offenses, boasting an average conviction rate of approximately 95% on cases solved by a tip to the program.

Crime Stoppers is a partnership between the Community, the Media and Law Enforcement.

Community

Citizens are responsible for forming a Crime Stoppers non-profit corporation, whose directors establish policy, determine amount and method of reward payments, work closely with law enforcement and the media and generally oversee the program. The directors are also responsible for fund raising, and all volunteer service. The program is supported by the public through tax deductible donations from businesses, corporations, individuals, and service organizations.

Media

Crime Stoppers is publicized on a regular basis by all media outlets including print, broadcast and web-based partners. Special attention is given to unsolved crime re-enactments, "Crimes of the Week", cold cases, narcotics activity, wanted fugitives, and suspected terrorist and gang activity.

Law Enforcement

Local law enforcement agencies receive and process the anonymous tips received through Crime Stoppers, and solve the crimes. If the information leads to an arrest, the caller will be paid up to $1,000.00 for their information.