Crime Stoppers Law and Legal Definition
Crime Stoppers refers to a program that allows members of a community to provide anonymous information about criminal activity. It is a volunteer organization of people and businesses who willingly give their money to pay people who have information about the criminal activity of others. An informant can provide crime solving assistance to the authorities without being directly involved in the investigation process. International level it is known as Crime Stoppers International. Crime Stopper programs are operated in many communities worldwide. For instance Crime Stoppers Australia and Crime Stoppers USA.
The following is a state law that provides a statutory framework regarding crime stoppers :
Crime Stoppers is private organization acting as it believes good citizens should by helping gather information about criminal activity and by giving such information to the police. Money given to Crime Stoppers is not tax money. It is money given freely by people who want to see those who have committed crimes put in jail. Since the funds used by Crime Stoppers is voluntarily donated and not public funds, the organization cannot be considered a victim for purposes of restitution. [Commonwealth v. Anderson, 394 Pa. Super. 299, 301-302 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1990)].
