How it Works
Put simply it is a three part approach to solving the crime problem. CrimeStoppers Honolulu relies on cooperation between the police, the media, and the general community to provide a flow of information about crime and criminals.
The Phone Call
Calls are received at the CrimeStoppers Honolulu tips line phone. This phone is a stand alone instrument which does not provide caller ID, and conversations are not recorded. The CrimeStoppers Honolulu police coordinator or volunteer receiving the information completes the tips information form, makes initial inquiries and then passes the information to the proper law enforcement agency. Calls are accepted regarding any publicized request for information, such as "Crime of the Week" or such other crime(s) or wanted persons the caller has knowledge of.
By guaranteeing a caller's anonymity, CrimeStoppers Honolulu allows the caller to give information in a positive atmosphere without the prospect of retribution. By offering cash rewards for information leading to indictment or arrests, the program encourages otherwise reluctant callers to provide information.
The On-line WebTip
Tipsters now have the option of giving us tips on-line by clicking the 'Give a Tip' button on any page. The process is completely secure and anonymous and is a very effective and efficient means of safely communicating with us in today's world. Our WebTip process is powered by the world's leading on-line tip solution provider, Anderson Software.
The very unique integrated Two-Way Dialog capabilities allow the tipster to come back and provide additional information to their tip at any time, but also provides a secure means for the coordinator to ask questions or provide reward information back to the tipster through the same secure and encrypted interface.
Structure and Funding of Crime Stoppers Programs
All Crime Stopper Programs are organized as not for profit organizations (Charity). A civilian community board of directors provides direction as to the financial and promotional activities of the program. The board of directors enhances the community involvement aspect, and its function is vital to the programs success.
Crime Stoppers programs are funded by private donations and fund raising. Operational funds and the reward money paid out by the program is from the fund raising and donations from concerned citizens and businesses.
The community board of directors, made up of persons from throughout the area, meets on a monthly basis to evaluate arrests and other activities to decide on the size of rewards to be paid, up to $250 in the Student CrimeStoppers program and up to $1,000 in all other matters. Rewards are then distributed in a private manner to the callers. Callers with information that brings results are eligible for rewards, but despite this, many callers choose not to collect their rewards.
Does Crime Stoppers Work?
The answer is quite simply yes. Since the start of the Crime Stoppers movement, many calls have been received resulting in thousands of arrests and recovery of substantial amounts of property (see the statistics page on this site). Calls typically have included information about murder, robbery, rape, assaults, drugs, firearm offenses and wanted fugitives. Of the hundreds of closed felony cases to date in Honolulu, that were assisted by our program, over 26 were homicides.
The success of all Crime Stoppers programs cannot be purely judged on statistics; however, other benefits have come to notice:
- A greater awareness in the community that there is a crime problem.
- A willingness by the community to fight back against crime if it is given the opportunity and motivation.
- Improved relationships between police, media, and the community.
CrimeStoppers Honolulu is definitely here to stay. It has been accepted by police as a valid and effective investigative tool and the public, through its overwhelming response, appears to have accepted it as a more palatable alternative to traditional methods of giving information.