Why Do Crime Tip Rewards

(e) Crime Tip Rewards. This strategy aims to encourage—through financial incentives and anonymity—reporting of criminal incidents by reluctant or fearful residents who have witnessed or have important information about a crime. A community group or city agency must administer a crime-reporting hotline and dispense rewards for valuable tips; local law enforcement personnel must be assigned to follow up on any tips received and help determine those who qualify for the cash (or other) rewards. Funds must be made available to pay rewards, and a telephone must be dedicated to receiving information from residents. Law enforcement must cooperate in publicizing the program and developing cooperative relationships with the

Residents help law enforcement agencies reduce drug activity and maintain security by reporting illegal activity to authorities, forming neighborhood patrols, and screening visitors to their buildings. Such crime reduction efforts save money and improve the quality of life. Some public housing residents follow up the work of special law enforcement teams and take back their homes, parks, and play areas from drug dealers and users. They walk hallways and public spaces, report to police or housing authorities on building conditions and criminal activity, and discourage vandalism and drug dealing with their frequent, visible presence. Some patrol members receive rent abatements in exchange for hours worked. Police officers train residents in crime observation and prevention and provide patrols with flashlights, whistles, walkie-talkies, jackets, and caps. Successful narcotics sweep programs in public housing depend on cooperation among housing residents, management, the local municipal housing authority, and law enforcement

This strategy advocates the use of local television, radio, newspapers, and other media to focus attention on community-based crime prevention projects and organizations. By highlighting such efforts, the media reinforces the community’s standard in opposition to all types of crime and helps build crime prevention awareness among the public. The media should be asked to publicize community events and promote public education on crime prevention through articles, public service announcements, radio shows, news programs, and cable television shows. Members of community-based crime prevention programs can begin to build partnerships with media sources by talking with reporters assigned to cover crime or community-related issues and by asking media sources for help in designing a public education campaign. Community leaders, key elected officials, church leaders, school board and Parent-Teacher Association members, philanthropists, and local celebrities often maintain contact with media sources who could be brought together to sponsor or support crime prevention activities in the