Okaloosa County Jail - Using inmates to solve crimes

In my line of work I have the chance to approve a lot of interviews that have been performed with ex-inmates. The purpose of the interview is primarily gathering an exhaustive database of information about what life behind bars is really like in different counties across the nation.

Recently, however, I read an interview that made me stop and do a little research to verify that the information provided by an ex-inmate was in fact true. As a part of the standard interview inmates are asked how they pass their time behind bars. Of course there is a long list of items that are pretty standard in county jails - watching TV, playing cards, playing chess, reading books, etc.

This particularly inmate, however, told us about a very unique program instituted in the Okaloosa County Jail where inmates can help police with unsolved crimes in the area.

How it works

The concept is pretty simple - the jails in Okaloosa County Jail give inmates little cards with details about unsolved crimes. The inmates can write any tips that they think might be helpful to solving the crime. If their tip results in an arrest they are eligible for a cash reward.

I have personally been involved in over three hundred interviews of ex-inmates but I have never heard of this practice. It might be used in other areas, but I am not aware of it; it seems like a very creative approach to law enforcement.

The Pro's

There are a lot of things to like about a program like this. First of all, people who are in jail often associate with other criminals. Of course this isn't always the case (there are plenty of people who go in for a one-time stint for a DUI, for example, and never go back), but the vast majority of people in the county jail system in the US are not in there for the first time.

Criminals also like to brag about their crimes. Imagine that you are sitting around with a group of people for hours on end with nothing to really do to pass the time. Inmates talk. This means that a lot of unsolved crimes probably can be solved by people who are doing time.

You might wonder why somebody who is in jail might care about a cash reward but a little cash can go a long way for the incarcerated. Okaloosa County Jail has a commissary where inmates can purchase snacks in addition to the meals they are served by the jail. Jail food isn't really good - some inmates actually live on commissary rather than eating the meals provided.

Finally, somebody who is legitimately trying to turn their life around might really benefit from feeling like part of the solution rather than part of the problem. This program really unites the inmates and the sheriffs in an unusual way; this could really change the dynamic between jailer and inmate. They are briefly engaged in a common goal.

The Con's

There are potential problems with this program that shouldn't be ignored. First of all, the inmate who provided our interview said that these cards are commonly referred to as "snitch cards." Inmates who observe other inmates filling out these cards could pose a physical threat to these inmates. Nobody wants to be labeled a snitch behind bars - in the convict pecking order a snitch is just a notch above a molester.

Some inmates also might use this opportunity to provide false information, or red herrings, that might distract the police department. This could be malicious where they really want to distract the police or just misguided (in which case they are just providing false information in the hopes that their tip will result in a reward).