SCHOOL CRIME HOTLINE COMING

Crimestoppers Lets Kids Be Anonymous

Providing a new, anonymous way for children to report trouble brewing in
schools and neighborhoods, Crimestoppers is planning to open its telephone
hotline to students in Jefferson Parish public schools.

The privately run program long has gathered crime tips from adults and
handed out rewards. It entered the public schools in Orleans Parish last
year. On Wednesday, the Jefferson Parish School Board approved a plan to
introduce Crimestoppers to its students in the 2004-05 academic year.

"We're giving kids the chance to empower themselves, and it's through a
safe, proven method," said Darlene Cusanza, executive director for
Crimestoppers in the New Orleans area. "If kids have an opportunity to tell
somebody safely, they will tell."

In its first year in Orleans schools, the hotline helped prevent fights,
solve a vandalism case and lead police and school officials to seize a gun,
knives and drugs. It issued $2,000 in reward money.

The main component of the plan is promoting the existing crime hotline to
children through posters in schools and presentations by Crimestoppers
representatives. It uses the same telephone number as the adult program,
(504) 822-1111.

To show children more immediate results from their tips, they will get
rewards for confiscation of illegal items or arrests, instead of having to
wait for suspects to be indicted, which is typical with the adult version.
Rewards range from $25 to $1,000, depending on the magnitude of the crimes.

Cusanza said the school hot line is modeled after one in Houston. She said
many U.S. school systems have launched similar efforts.

Carol Mancuso, safety and discipline director for Jefferson public schools,
said she hopes the hotline will complement other security tools, such as
the system's drug testing and rehabilitation program, classes for children
caught fighting, and updated emergency planning.

"You can say what you have to say and not have to worry about retaliation,"
Mancuso said of the hotline. "This is just another safety net, another
safeguard, another option."

It even could help in solving and preventing crimes outside of school,
Cusanza said, because children often hear of problems in their neighborhoods.

"I think it's another method to keep our children and our communities
safe," said Diane Roussel, superintendent of Jefferson schools. "We've been
always very open to things like that."