Central Alabama CrimeStoppers and Local Colleges Partner to Stop Crime with Campus CrimeStoppers

(July 19, 2008) -- Crime touches all lives, directly or indirectly. Because crime can leave a profound mark on our youth, school safety has become an emotional issue that has shot to the forefront of national and local public sentiment. Central Alabama CrimeStoppers, along with Alabama State University and Huntingdon College, are working together to create a safer learning environment by starting Campus CrimeStoppers.

Campus CrimeStoppers works just like the community program. It will offer an anonymous tip line (215-STOP) and cash rewards for information about drugs, theft, vandalism and other crimes that lead to an arrest. Students will be selected from each campus to oversee the program. These students will also be taught how to educate their fellow classmates on crime prevention.

The existence of CrimeStoppers does not indicate that a school has a crime or drug problem, but teaches a proactive, not reactive approach to administrators, students, parents, and the community by publicizing a safer school environment. Often utilized within the curriculum to teach character development, the program promotes school spirit and pride, and a positive campus image to students. Indirectly, schools may experience a reduced risk of lawsuits and put a check on insurance costs. In addition to being a way students can safely report school crimes anonymously without fear of retaliation, this program encourages the development of responsibility. Students can participate in a valuable extracurricular activity, while they benefit from a reduction in incidents on campus and enjoy an increased sense of security.

Although students do not come into contact with victims or persons committing crimes, student boards are appointed to promote the program, review information about crimes and determine what type of rewards will be given. A variety of crimes can be committed on a school campus, such as vandalism, theft, graffiti, bomb threats, excessive bullying, arson, and presentation of drugs and weapons. Depending on the severity of the crime, rewards for tips can range from $25-$1,000. There are those who advocate that paying rewards could promote students to become “snitches” or invent crimes as revenge against other students, however crimes are carefully investigated and only a small percent of students ever collect the rewards.