Crimestoppers: Crime prevention through community involvement

Darlene Cusanza is the president and CEO of Crimestoppers New Orleans. In this interview, Darlene explains that Crimestoppers is an international organization that focuses on encouraging people to provide information about crimes by offering them rewards for useful tips, while strictly preserving the tip givers' anonymity. Darlene points out that Crimestoppers New Orleans serves more than nine parishes. Since the organization began, tips from the public in our area have led to over 14,000 felony convictions, and more than $2 million in rewards to tip givers. During that time, no one has experienced retaliation for providing a useful tip about a felony crime. Darlene points out that the organization representatives never ask for a caller's name or contact information; rather, callers are identified only by a code number. In this podcast, Darlene explains how the organization pays anonymous informants their cash rewards. In addition to the felony tip program, the organization also has a youth education program. As Darlene notes, "Volunteers are always needed" for everything from assisting with teen programs to manning booths on the annual Night Out Against Crime. 

Listen to the podcast here.