Crime Stoppers of Miami-Dade County was created in September 1981 in response to rising crime rates. This should not be confused with Neighborhood Crime Watch.Crime Stoppers of Miami-Dade is a community-based program that involves the public, the media and law enforcement in the fight against crime. It offers anonymity and cash rewards to people who provide information leading to the arrest and filing of criminal charges against offenders, and the capture of fugitives. Anonymity overcomes fear of involvement.
However, in some of the more recent crimes reported in the media, people are afraid to come forward to report tips, even anonymously. So, reward money sits waiting to be claimed and the crime goes unsolved, while the people who know what happened are silent. How does Crime Stoppers work?
When media partners via television, radio, internet or print present a news report or re-enactment of a crime they will often include the Crime Stopper tips line number (305 471-TIPS). it is the number commonly printed in the newspaper at the end of crime stories, flashed across news telecasts or recited with regularity on the radio news broadcasts.
If an individual recognizes the person involved or knows about the crime, they can contact the Crime Stoppers detectives through the TIPS line.
Recently, Crime Stoppers has launched a special text messaging system to allow a tipster to anonymously text information and receive a tip number. This program was launched at the University of Miami with the help of a Peacock Foundation Grant. The City of Coral Gables now provides the text messaging information on their community trolleys and tips can be send via computer on the Crime Stopper website.
Upon receiving a tip, detectives then process the information given and assign a confidential tip number to the “tipster”. Law enforcement agencies then receive the information callers provide. This information is taken anonymously for the safety of the tipster.
If the tip is called in, detectives answering the phone NEVER ask for a name and will stop the caller if they start to give it. In fact, the Crime Stopper Office phones do not have caller identity capacity; the lines are not traced nor are the calls ever recorded.
Actually, once a tipster is assigned the tip number they are the ones responsible to keep it recorded and in a secure place. They must have the tip number available to give to the detective answering the phone because that is the only way Crime Stoppers can identify the tipster and the case.
Once a tipster is given a confidential tip number, they use it to check on the status of their information. If their information results in an arrest or filing of criminal charges, or if a criminal is apprehended, arrangements are made for them to receive their reward in cash while preserving their anonymity. At no time in the process is a caller’s name or identity required, just the assigned tip number and a password for the bank giving them the money. They never meet with the police department or anyone associated with the Crime Stopper organization.
The Crime Stoppers Board of Directors is comprised of concerned citizens of the greater Miami-Dade area who oversee the operation of the program. Crime Stoppers is a non-profit organization under section 501 (C) 3 of the IRS code, and is funded through donations from the public and through a state trust fund. Depending on the circumstances of each case, the Board and Crime Stopper detectives determine the tip value, which may be $50 to $1000. The Board, like the police department, never knows who called the tip in.
It should be noted that in cases where the reward exceeds the Crime Stopper $1000 limit, there will be in most situations other people putting the additional money up for the reward. Occasionally, family members, corporations or even county commissioners will contribute to the extra reward in order to help solve the crime. The reward amount that falls beyond Crime Stopper contribution is not always rewarded through the Crime Stopper program. Crime Stopper tips must come in through the TIPS line to be eligible for the Crime Stopper’s reward.
By the way, the crimes reported, can be as simple as tips about illegal dumping, pit bulls, vandalism, stolen utilities, car theft --- all the way to illegal weapons, drugs, prostitution, fugitive warrants, murder. Any Crime, Any Time.
All emergency and crime-in-progress calls ABSOLUTELY must go to 911 before reporting to Crime Stoppers!
www.crimestoppersmiami.com
4 comments:
Thank you for the information. I always thought Crime Stoppers was a government program or funded by Crime Watch. I think I have it straight.
Anonymously yours,
:0)
Any crime any time. I like it. However, I would give them a reward to arrest some of these politicians.
call in a tip.
Florida is the most corrupt state but that is not surprising. Look who their governor is... Slick Rick Scott. Click Here for the 411 on Miami Crime and Corruption and read some excerpts from Miami a Survivor's Tale by Frank Abrams Esq.
On balance Miami is the most corrupt.
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