In May of 2018 Governor Greg Abbott, in response to recent school shootings, issued a School and Firearm Safety and Action Plan for the State of Texas which includes a recommendation to greatly expand the use of Campus Crime Stopper programs in Texas schools.
Campus Crime Stoppers programs can help prevent dangerous and potentially life-threatening situations from occurring among our student populations both on and off campus. Reports of bullying, cyberbullying, truancy, sexual misconduct, suicide hindrance, animal cruelty, illegal drugs, weapons, human trafficking, theft, child abuse, date violence, and more can all be submitted through the anonymous tip reporting system. Providing students an opportunity to help their school, community, and peers by discreetly reporting suspicious behavior or criminal activity allows students to proactively become part of the school safety solution and ensure youth who are at-risk receive services they need.
Since Campus Crime Stoppers’ inception in Texas there have been over 41,000 anonymous tips received that have cleared 57,000 cases. Campus Crime Stoppers programs have successfully recovered over $5 million in stolen property, seized over $2 million worth of illegal drugs and retrieved nearly 6,000 weapons from school campuses across Texas without incident before acts of violence occur.
How can you become a part of the solution?
Campus Crime Stoppers of Southeast Texas covers 17 school districts in Hardin, Jefferson, and Orange counties which include 18 both public and private high schools and 35 middle schools with a student population of over 34,000 students. Campus CSSETX has received numerous tips regarding bullying, vaping, self-harm, weapons, vandalism, and much more. Campus CSSETX currently distributes signs, bookmarks, stickers, table runners, and banners to our affiliate schools. Crime Stoppers of Southeast Texas would like to expand its current program to be able to offer regular presentations about Date Violence, Sex Trafficking, Bullying, etc… to our tri-county schools. Accordingly, it will be a massive undertaking and requires the establishment of adequate staff and resources. We are grateful to our many current Campus Crime Stoppers partners such as the Foundation for SETX, BASF, Hancock Whitney Wealth Management, and are looking to add others.
Additionally, Crime Stoppers of Southeast Texas will be hosting the State Campus Crime Stoppers Conference in February 2022. Students, campus coordinators, law enforcement officers, school resource officers, and many others from around the state will travel to Beaumont to learn about the latest legislation, strategies, and methods to keep Campus Crime Stopper programs current on how to run efficiently and effectively to keep our youth safe. Campus Crime Stoppers of SETX is currently partnering with the Eleganté Hotel, Beaumont Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, and are seeking other partnerships/sponsorships for the February 2022 event.
If you are interested in becoming a Campus Crime Stopper Partner for our SETX School Program and/or the State Campus Crime Stoppers Conference, please contact the Executive Director Stephanie Vanskike at 409.333.4088 or online at 833TIPS.COM.