Counties: Incentives to Involve Residents in Crime Solving Enhance Public Safety

On March 7, 2023, Associate Policy Director Sarah Sample submitted testimony to the House Judiciary Committee in support of HB 1044 – Criminal Procedure – Crime Solvers Reward Fund – Establishment.

This bill establishes the Crime Solvers Reward Fund to provide local law enforcement agencies with resources to compensate individuals for their assistance in solving crimes. With an enhanced capacity to offer these incentives to residents, beyond the disparate availability of existing funds set aside for these purposes, all jurisdictions will be better able to ensure the safety of their communities.

From the MACo Testimony:

An incentive for residents to keep their neighborhoods safe brings numerous benefits. Information from the public, obtained through crime solver tip lines, can have a propulsive effect on criminal investigations. In some instances, these types of details have solidified the merits of a successful prosecution in a case. When law enforcement and county governments show a consistent record of solving crimes, public trust and peace of mind are indisputably reinforced. This bill would further those efforts.