Every year in October, advocates around the country are busy with activities for Domestic Violence Awareness Month. We are invited to speak on panels, give presentations at schools, and provide information to community members at health fairs and other events. We are asked about services for those who are being abused and how one can avoid getting into a relationship with someone who may be abusive. These are important questions that may help some survivors with safety, but they put the responsibility of solving the problem on those who have the least power to do so in the relationship. In the United States, our approach to dealing with domestic violence has largely been reactive and focused on how survivors should behave after violence has been committed against them by someone they love. For example, survivors are often told to leave their partners, call the police, or obtain a protective order, even though doing these things often actually increases their risk of being killed. Additionally, this one-size-fits-all approach does not take into account the experiences of marginalized communities in dealing with the criminal justice or child welfare systems, or the less prosecutable, but very effective, tactics of power and control such […]

Public libraries are an important part of any society and can connect you to all sorts of information on any subject or question you may have. While many think of libraries as simply a room full of books, that could not be farther from the truth; with the help of a library, you can be connected to resources, both digital and physical, inside and outside of our building, including information on fire safety, emergency preparedness, and firework safety that is appropriate for any age. For children, we have books available to check out both in-house and online. These range in topics from how to survive a fire, what to do in case of an emergency, how to interact with emergency services, and how to deal with the aftermath of a disaster. These are incredibly important resources for children, as it helps them understand the world around them, and how to safely navigate it both physically and emotionally. For adults, library resources include books, databases, and reference materials from entities such as FEMA that cover a myriad of topics including how to elevate your flood-prone house, questions about the National Flood Insurance Program, and reducing damage from localized flooding. Two examples […]

As the numbers of seniors increase in population, we see ads for independent living communities: Enjoy a Resort-Like Living Environment Graciousness and Hospitality Throughout Each Day in a Warm, Residential Environment Fine Restaurant-type Dining Carefree Lifestyle Tailored to Your Needs Who wouldn’t want this for a residence? Unfortunately, one important feature is not mentioned: security. This oversight gave a murderer access to over a dozen women in four different independent living establishments in Collin and Dallas Counties, from April 2016 to his eventual arrest in March 2018. He posed as a maintenance worker and unsuspecting residents opened their door to him believing they were safe in their apartment at their establishment. As we learned our loved ones had been murdered, we became aware how this predator gained access to the vulnerable. On a recent tour of an independent living establishment, assurances were made that garage entry was secure with the gate down, unless residents entered, or a staff member was monitoring the open gate. Sure enough, the gate was up, entry into the garage was easily accessible and there was no staff in sight. In those instances, residents should be advised not to open their door unless they know who […]

As crime continues to be politicized, sadly Crime Stoppers is becoming a target. While none of this will deter us from being a voice for victims, when possible, we will share the attacks and our response. Read more below: In 2019, Crime Stoppers of Houston began noticing a trend in which many of the defendants charged with murder were released on multiple felony bonds, person recognizance (PR) bonds, motion to revoke bond denied and bond forfeiture. Since then, we have compiled a list of victims killed/murdered by defendants that had been released on the above at the time of their death.  Sadly, this list has grown to over 160 men, women and children who have lost their lives at the hands defendants that have shown time and time again that they are a direct threat to our community.  We are not talking about low level felony case or misdemeanor case or even drug related case.  We are talking about violent felonies as defined by the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting of 2019 that includes murder, non-negligent manslaughter, forceable rape, robbery, and aggravated assaults. All of which are arguably the most feared types of victimization in our society. Crime Stoppers of Houston […]

According to the ASPCA an animal is abused every 60 seconds. The Humane Society of the United States reports that most cases of animal abuse go undetected. Animal cruelty takes many forms, from neglecting to provide clean water, food and veterinary care to severe beatings and other physical attacks. It is hard to believe that animal abuse is still a serious problem in modern society. It is horrible to think about, but the results of ignoring animal cruelty are even more devastating. Animal cruelty is often committed by a person who feels powerless, unnoticed or under the control of others. The motive may be to shock, threaten, intimidate or offend others or to demonstrate rejection of society’s rules. Some who are cruel to animals copy acts they have seen or that have been done to them. Others see harming an animal as a safe way to get revenge against someone who cares about that animal which is why animals are protected in restraining orders. Preventing animal cruelty is in the best interests of a community, as well as, important for public health. Studies have shown that cruelty to animals is a sign that other abuse is taking place in the […]

Supported by partners like the Texas Education Agency (TEA), Spindletop Community Impact Partners, Inc.  and others, our free webinars are designed to provide critical safety education and resources to schools and communities across Texas. All webinars are free-of-charge. An array of safety topics will be covered in the following key areas: S.A.V.E. (Safety Actions. Valuable Education) webinar series is a FREE virtual platform to inform, educate and provide resources for teachers, school administrators, school-based law enforcement, school related safety personnel, as well as all Crime Stoppers organizations on the many topics that concern the safety of our schools and community. This series will be offered on Mondays at 10am: April 4: Prom Safety April 18: Importance of Animal Safety Education in Schools and Reporting April 25: Mental Health for Educators and Students during Testing May 2: Testing Stressors: Mental Health Strategies May 16: Think Before you Post May 23: Summer Safety June 13: Summer Situational Awareness June 20: Reporting: Creating a Safe Space June 27: Bystander Interventions These S.A.V.E. webinars are made possible by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and Spindletop Community Impact Partners, Inc. Presentations for the Community: Through multimedia presentations, the Safe Community Program (SCP) presents cutting edge […]

As crime continues to be politicized, sadly Crime Stoppers is becoming a target. While none of this will deter us from being a voice for victims, when possible, we will share the attacks and our response. Read more below: In 2019, Crime Stoppers of Houston began noticing a trend in which many of the defendants charged with murder were released on multiple felony bonds, person recognizance (PR) bonds, motion to revoke bond denied and bond forfeiture. Since then, we have compiled a list of victims killed/murdered by defendants that had been released on the above at the time of their death.  Sadly, this list has grown to over 160 men, women and children who have lost their lives at the hands defendants that have shown time and time again that they are a direct threat to our community.  We are not talking about low level felony case or misdemeanor case or even drug related case.  We are talking about violent felonies as defined by the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting of 2019 that includes murder, non-negligent manslaughter, forceable rape, robbery, and aggravated assaults. All of which are arguably the most feared types of victimization in our society. Crime Stoppers of Houston […]

In acknowledgment of Human Trafficking Awareness Day, the Alliance of Leadership & Innovation for Victims of Exploitation (ALIVE), embraces victims and survivors of human trafficking. ALIVE’S founder, Melinda Metz has a saying, “It’s about saving lives.” Victims and survivors want and deserve a chance to start, or restart, their lives after exploitation. The opportunity to have healthy choices, to feel alive, free, liberated. Throughout history many courageous abolitionists have battled the business model of slavery. While this human atrocity remains in its evolved form, ALIVE’s Mission is “dedicated to ending sex trafficking in the Black community, by leveraging awareness and prevention through innovative solution-focused events.”  Our Vision, “To behold a Black Community free from sex trafficking and exploitation.”    Women and girls of color continue to be disproportionately impacted by the sex trade. Their vulnerabilities, a result of structural violence, including poverty, homelessness, lack of education and over-sexualization at an early age, make them targets for exploitation, as well as increasing the chances they will be arrested for their own victimization. According to Johan Galtung, “structural violence” is an avoidable impairment of fundamental human needs. He introduced the term in the article “Violence, Peace and Peace Research” in 1969. It […]