Pennsylvania Defense Lawyer

Pennsylvania Criminal Defense - Laws, Penalties & Information

Free Initial Consultation

(888) 205-9314

  • Home
  • Criminal Charges
  • Preliminary Hearing
  • FAQ
  • About
    • Disclaimer / Privacy Policy
  • Blog

Do Rewards for Information Help Police Solve Crimes?

May 10, 2012 Leave a Comment

A new piece in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette examines the use of rewards in solving crimes. While offering money for tips isn’t new and is a practice used around the world, there is little evidence that it works—little data at all on how the rewards affect a case.

Countless variables make reward money difficult for criminologists to study, and law enforcement officials say they’ve had mixed results with the time-honored tactic. Monetary rewards can mean that investigators get bombarded with erroneous leads; they can cast doubt upon a witness’ motives during trial. Disputes can arise over how a bounty is paid out.

But police continue to rely on reward money as a means to draw out wary informants, sometimes those who can break a case.

The lure of a cash reward can help push a reluctant witness or tipster into sharing what they know. But it can also bring forth people with worthless and completely untrue leads.

Still, Pittsburgh Police Commander Ronald Freemand says they work. As an example he remembered on tipster who turned in his own mother in order to collect the money for his own drug habit. Now that’s good police work.

Some people are willing to share information regardless of the money. For them it’s an issue of doing what they believe is the “right thing.”

For others, offering tips could put them in danger, whether their personal safety would be at risk or they would simply be labeled a “snitch,” some are very reluctant to share information with the police. It’s these folks who can sometimes be swayed by a reward.

Crime Stoppers USA offers up to $1,000 in cash for tips. They say this has led to over 620,000 arrests since the program was started in 1976. Most of the tipsters, however, are lured more by anonymity than reward. Forty percent never call back to claim their money.

Police often depend on witnesses and people within the community to deliver tips in solving crimes. The people simply have more information. Getting that information, however, has always proved tricky.

Rewards are just one way cops can sway people into sharing what they know.

If you are accused or suspected of a crime, you may have gotten caught because someone “snitched” or informed the police of your role. Perhaps that person was unreliable. If so, your attorney can challenge the reliability of the information given to police.

Witnesses are often of questionable morals themselves.

Contact our offices today if you are charged with a crime. We can discuss the charges, whether they are drug-related or violent offenses, and offer valuable legal advice.

 

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Free Consultation

Contact our attorneys for a free legal case evaluation on any criminal charge by calling:


(888)205-9314


Receive our free legal defense consultation and case evaluation. We'll explain what you are facing in plain language, and tell you how we can help.

Criminal Court Procecures

  • Criminal Charges
  • FAQ
  • Preliminary Hearing

Criminal Charges

  • Assault
  • Careless / Reckless Driving
  • Criminal Mischief
  • Criminal Trespassing
  • Disorderly Conduct
  • Domestic Assault
  • Drug Possession
  • Drug Possession - Marijuana
  • Drug Distribution / Intent to Deliver
  • DUI
  • Failure to Appear
  • Fraud / Forgery
  • Harassment/Stalking
  • Hit & Run
  • Retail Theft
  • Sex Crimes
  • Suspended License
  • Tax Charges
  • Weapons Offenses
  • Violation of a Protection Order

Free Consultation

Arrested in Pennsylvania? Call now for a free criminal case evaluation on any Pennsylvania criminal offense.

(888)205-9314

Copyright © 2021 Get Lawyer Leads, Inc.
THIS IS AN ADVERTISEMENT. This is not a law firm or referral service and does not provide legal advice. This is a free matching service only, claim reviews will be performed by a third party attorney. An attorney-client relationship is not formed when you submit the form and you are under no obligation to retain a lawyer who contacts you through this service. Services are not available in all states.