How it Works

Put simply it is a three-part approach to solving the crime problem. Crime Stoppers relies on cooperation between the police, the media, and the general community to provide a flow of information about crime and criminals. Crime Stoppers and Law Enforcement NEVER know who the Tipster is.

The Phone Call - 931-645-TIPS

Calls are received at the local Crime Stoppers tips line phone. This phone is a stand-alone instrument that does not provide caller ID, and conversations are not recorded. The Crime Stoppers police or civilian Coordinator receiving the information completes the tips information form, makes initial inquiries, and then passes the information to the investigating officer. Calls are accepted regarding any publicized request for information and other crime(s) the caller has knowledge of.

By guaranteeing a caller's anonymity Crime Stoppers 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 Online Web Tip - www.clarksvillecrimestoppers.com

Tipsters now have the option of giving us tips online. 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 online 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.

P3 TIPS APP

Through Crime Stoppers' P3 Tips App by Anderson Software, Tipsters can use their iOS or Android mobile phone to provide crime-solving information, submit photos of suspects and videos of crimes, and have two-way conversations with Crime Stoppers about the crime, their tip, and a reward, ALL WHILE REMAINING ANONYMOUS. The multi-lingual P3 Tips App is a secure, anonymous, and efficient means of safely communicating with Crime Stoppers.

The two-way dialog feature of the P3 Tips App allows a Tipster to provide additional information, check the status of the investigation, or learn if a reward has been authorized, as well as provides the means for Crime Stoppers to ask questions of or provide updates to a Tipster, all through an encrypted interface that protects the Tipster's anonymity.

Structure and Funding of Crime Stoppers

Crime Stopper Programs are organized as a not-for-profit organization (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 program's success.

The Crime Stoppers program is funded by donations, fundraising, and up to $2 from each guilty city traffic violation. NO TAX DOLLARS are involved. The reward money paid out by the program is from fundraising and donations from concerned citizens and businesses.

A community board of directors, made up of persons from throughout the area, meets on a monthly basis to evaluate arrests and to decide on the size of rewards to be paid, up to $2,000 for Felony Crimes and up to $10,000 for unsolved homicides that are older than 3 years. Rewards are then distributed in a private manner to the callers. Anonymous Tipsters are eligible for cash 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 Crime Stoppers, many calls have been received resulting in thousands of arrests and recovery of substantial amounts of property. Calls have included information about murder, robbery, rape, assaults, drug and firearm offenses.

The success of a Crime Stoppers program 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.

Crime Stoppers 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.