Do Cash Rewards Actually Help Solve Crimes?

LOUISIANA (KMDL-FM) - Currently the entire country is talking about the tragic abduction of Nancy Guthrie, mother of TODAY co-host Savannah Guthrie. Currently, an anonymous donor has come forth adding $100,000 to the reward money for anyone who can come forward with information leading to this case being solved.

This brings the total reward being offered in the Nancy Guthrie case to over $200,000.

This got us thinking...how effective is offering reward money in cases like this? It's got to work if they continued to be offered to help solve crimes, right? We also rarely hear of people collecting crime rewards, so do people ever claim them?

The answers might surprise you...

Most Crimes in America Go Unsolved

According to crime statistics from the FBI, law enforcement agencies typically clear about 40–50% of violent crimes nationwide. Homicide clearance rates have also declined significantly over the decades, dropping from around 70% in 1980 to closer to 60% in recent years.

READ MORE: Louisiana on List of States That Produce the Most Serial Killers

That’s one reason rewards are often introduced.

Do Cash Rewards Increase Tips?

One organization we're all familiar with offering cash rewards is Crime Stoppers. Crime Stoppers offers anonymity plus a financial reward in exchange for information. What offering rewards can do is increase the number of tips submitted, particularly in high-profile cases.

Get our free mobile app

Because of how Crime Stoppers offers their rewards, giving tipsters the option to stay anonymous, the National Institute of Justice found that Crime Stoppers programs have contributed to solving thousands of felony cases over the years.

That being said, it's hard to prove that reward money money alone cause tips to come in.

How Often Are Rewards Actually Claimed?

According to NPR, despite high reward amounts that make headlines, most rewards are never paid out. In fact, in most areas around the U.S., only 15–20% of offered rewards are ever claimed.

There are a few reasons for this because reward programs often require that the tip directly leads to an arrest, results in formal charges, and in some cases the tip received must lead to a conviction.

READ MORE: KLFY Starts New Local True Crime Show 'Cajun Case Files'

Why Rewards Don’t Always Lead to Arrests

While offering cash rewards does help to bring in tips on cases, it doesn't necessarily translate into solved cases. Some people are afraid of retaliation, even with anonymity.

The Bottom Line

Cash rewards can help bring in tips, and in some cases, they absolutely contribute to solving crimes. When you see a large reward announced in a case, it can increase attention and possibly generate new information. But statistically speaking, the odds of that reward being claimed, or single-handedly solving the case are relatively low.