TEXAS CRIME STOPPERS

1. TEXAS CRIME STOPPERS Texas Association of Regional Councils

6. Statistically crime is actually down in the nation, according to the latest FBI 2007-2008 statistics. However, there remains the perception that crime is increasing, especially in Texas, due to reported crimes along the border. http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/08aprelim/table_4ok-wi.html

7. In 1976, Detective Greg MacAleese in Albuquerque, New Mexico, felt frustrated that crime in his city was escalating at an alarming rate: the community appeared to be apathetic and frightened of retribution from the criminal element. • He created an out-of-the-box program Crime Stoppers, which is now in all 50 states and 24 countries.

8. FICTION TO FACT

9. “Dick Tracy” author, Chester Gould, gave permission to Detective MacAleese to use the name Crime Stoppers.

10. What is Crime Stoppers? Texas Crime Stoppers This program provides funds for the administration and operation of local Texas Crime Stoppers programs. Texas Crime Stoppers programs accept anonymous tips and provide rewards when these tips lead to indictments and/or convictions. Texas Crime Stoppers funds a 24-hour toll-free hotline for gathering information on unsolved crimes and trains local programs. Texas Crime Stoppers also provides grant funds directly to certified local programs. The program provides a partnership between the public, law enforcement agencies and the media in order to speed identification and apprehension of criminals. http://governor.state.tx.us/cjd/programs

11. Eligible Applicants: Crime Stoppers organizations as defined by §414.001(2) of the Texas Government Code that are certifiedby the Texas Crime Stoppers Councilto receive repayments under Articles 37.073 and 42.152 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, or payments from a defendant under Article 42.12 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure. Section 414.001(2) of the Texas Government Code defines a “crime stoppers organization” as follows: (1) a private, nonprofit organization that is operated on a local or statewide level, that accepts and expends donations for rewards to persons who report to the organization information about criminal activity and that forwards the information to the appropriate law enforcement agency; or (2) a public organization that is operated on a local or statewide level, that pays rewards to persons who report to the organization information about criminal activity, and that forwards the information to the appropriate law enforcement agency. Requirements: Crime Stoppers programs must focus on reducing crime through the operation of a hotline that receives information about criminal activities and fugitives from members of the public, guarantees anonymity, forwards the information to the appropriate law enforcement agency, andpays rewards.

12. Restricted Account: Court Fees, used to pay rewards to tipsters. Operations Account: 20% of Court Fees, grant funding, donations and fundraising money – used to purchase equipment (e.g. phone services, computers), pay for travel to training conferences and promotional items.

13. 2008 Texas Crime Stoppers Statewide Statistics Campus programs (public schools, universities) 2,199 cases cleared 1,776 administratively disciplined $42,302 value of property recovered $17,885 value of narcotics seized 127 weapons seized – 3 potential Columbine events were prevented due to Crime Stoppers Community programs 5,844 suspects arrested 8,256 cases cleared $5,759,493 value of property recovered $39,793,540 value of narcotics seized Consider if Crime Stoppers did not exist?

14. Crime Stoppers is successful because tipsters remain anonymous by law, and are eligible to receive cash rewards

15. Most people report crimes not for the rewards, they just want live in safe communities.

16. Confused grant applicants? https://cjdonline.governor.state.tx.us www.thetexascrimestoppers.org COG grantee training sessions

17. How can COG criminal justice planners help Crime Stoppers at the local level?

18. Answer #1: Crime Stoppers often have trouble understanding eGrants and should be invited to all COG grantee training sessions to learn how the system works.  Reason:  There is turnover in many local program boards and coordinators from one year to the next and the new board members are not familiar with eGrants.

19. Answer #2: Local Crime Stoppers programs in many areas are looking for other grants (federal, private funds) that could help them with operational costs.  COG planners may be able to steer them to other funding sources and help them with grant applications. 

20. Reason for needing other grants: The Crime Stoppers Assistance Fund is limited in the amount of dollars collected by the Comptroller.  Other federal law enforcement grant sources may be available to help Crime Stoppers.  With the poor economy, local fund sources may be limited and Crime Stoppers need assistance in covering their operational costs, such as hotlines, purchase of metal street signs, purchase of equipment to produce wanted posters, etc.

21. Why do local Crime Stoppers programs belong in the community plans in the various COG regions?

22. They help police and sheriffs’ offices solve crimes, especially cold cases, and remove criminals from the streets. They work in the schools to help prevent violence, curb drug dealing, and keep children and faculty safe.

23. $760,000,000.00 • Since inception, the Texas Crime Stoppers program has successfully retrieved close to a billion dollars in property recovered and narcotics seized. • http://cjd.tamu.edu/

24. The investment of grant funding, court fees and volunteer hours reveals a massive rate of return for monies and hours invested, and a huge savings and value to Texas taxpayersfor crimes prevented, property protected, and health-care costs avoided.

25. Since inception the Texas Crime Stoppers program has led to the arrests of 107,000 criminals. Now consider this… What if Crime Stoppers did not exist in Texas?