Legal Research

Many Police Departments Now Getting Tips By Text Message

By David Badertscher, PLL

Source: Crime and Justice News, June 17, 2008.

"Anonymous crime tips increasingly are coming to police by text message, says USA Today. The Louisville police department has joined the growing number of cities using text messaging in an attempt to build on the success of phone tip lines and connect to a generation of texters. A year ago, the Boston Police Department became the first to use and extensively promote texting to get tips through its Crime Stoppers unit. The department has received nearly as many text tips (678) as phone calls (727)."

"Cities including Seattle, Fresno, San Diego, Tampa, and Kansas City, have begun using text messaging in the past three months, said Kevin Anderson of Anderson Software, which designed the technology being used by many departments. There are about 100 other communities considering it and making plans to use it, Anderson said. He expects San Francisco, Los Angeles, Miami, and Pittsburgh to be on board soon. The software costs about $50 a month for an unlimited number of messages."

USA Today

Full post as published by New York Supreme Court Criminal Term Library on June 17, 2008 (boomark / email).