The program promotes and encourages young people to call if they know someone brought a gun, a knife or any other weapon to school.  It also gives students the opportunity to report problems such as graffiti or vandalism, theft, alcohol and drugs, harassment and even the latest national problem, 'bomb threats."  Calling the 800-422-JAIL number gives students the opportunity to not only do the right thing to prevent someone from harming themselves or others or the property of others, but it allows them to do so anonymously.

The program is student operated.  A board of directors composed of students is appointed to market and advertise the program.  The members of the student board never know who the victims, witnesses or suspects are regarding a tip that is submitted.  These identities are protected by the school liaison affiliated with the program.  Each school is encouraged to tailor the program to meet its specific needs.  Logos, mottos, flyers, by-laws and other aspects of the program may be constructed to fit each institution.  The students are challenged to be creative in developing the program.  Some schools have implemented billboards, contests, video re-enactments, etc.  to get the word out regarding the program.

To organize a student crime stoppers program within a school, the board of education of the school district has to approve the implementation of the program.  Members of the local Crime Stoppers board of directors and/or the local crime stoppers coordinator then can meet with the high school principal (or his/her designee) and a staff member who is willing to take on the responsibility of coordinating the program within the school. The staff member then appoints students to the student board, adopts the by-laws to meet the school's needs and designs a tip pay out program.  The group then decides how they will get information out to students as to how the program works.  In working with the local Crime Stoppers program, decisions and recommendations can be discussed as to how the program will be financed, who will be responsible to tip pay outs, and if any fundraising projects will be conducted, how will it be done and who will do it.

Pay outs for tips within the school can range from $5.00 up to $1,000.00.  Tip decision within the school for internal offenses usually do not exceed a payout of more than $300.00.  A tip which may be felony related would fall under the guidelines of Crime Stoppers with a tip of up to $1,000.00 being paid.

Only about six percent of the students ever collect rewards issued to them, while outside crime prevention programs report that twenty-five to fifty percent of people being issued rewards actually collect them.  These statistics reveal that the motivating force for students to report a tip is rarely for the money.  Students simply want offenders stopped, their school to be safe and to not be identified as the one who "snitched."  Remaining anonymous is the key!  The Student Crime Stoppers program promotes school spirit, pride and responsibility.  It allows students to take action against victimization and crime, and it protects the anonymity of those who choose to come forth anonymously with information needed to eliminate crime.

The success of the program often depends on the support the program is given by school administration.  The more encouragement and power the administration gives the students, the more successful the program is likely to become.

If you are not sure how to make contact with your local Crime Stoppers program to gain information on how to start a Student Crime Stoppers program in your school, call your local police agency or call the Crime Stoppers (800) number for information on the Crime Stoppers program nearest you.

Edited: 01/31/2007