2026 Global Annual Awards
Celebrating Crime Stoppers programs and partners, individuals who show extraordinary commitment to the mission, and corporate and private sector entities achieving outstanding results in reducing crime, raising community awareness, or strengthening law enforcement capability.
Entries for the 2026 Awards closed on 31 July 2026. Winners are announced at the Summit & Awards Gala Dinner in Panama on 15 October 2026.
Global award categories
Twenty awards across four categories, open to Crime Stoppers programs, law enforcement, media agencies, and the corporate and private sector.
Individual Recognition Awards
Entry to the CSI Hall of Fame.
- Crime Stoppers Lifetime Achievement Award – an individual with a long-standing commitment to the Crime Stoppers mission. Formerly the Coralie Wagner Memorial Award.
- Outstanding Crime Stoppers Volunteer of the Year – a volunteer who has shown exceptional dedication. Formerly Civilian of the Year.
- Law Enforcement Partnership Award – an officer or unit that has collaborated effectively with Crime Stoppers. Formerly the Paul D Boudreau Program Coordinator Award.
Media Partner Awards
For media organisations, and advertising, marketing, communications and PR agencies that have given exceptional support to one or more Crime Stoppers programs.
- Excellence in Media Support – journalists or outlets recognised for outstanding local, national or international coverage.
- Community Impact of the Year – a media company whose reach or engagement has contributed significantly to Crime Stoppers' success.
- Best agency-developed initiative – an innovative or wide-reaching campaign, in any medium, addressing a crime type or community concern, raising awareness of Crime Stoppers, or driving a call to action.
Crime Stoppers Program Awards
For the programs themselves, judged on results.
- Global Expansion Award – a recently established program that has reached proficiency and positive results. Formerly the Gary Murphy Global Expansion Award.
- Most Impactful Crime Stoppers Program – the most significant contribution by a national or local program, on metrics such as property, drugs, firearms or tobacco seized, or arrests.
- Innovation in Tackling Crime – a program using new technology, or existing technology in a new way, or creative outreach.
- Community Engagement & Awareness – outstanding public engagement through training or awareness initiatives, measured on reach, engagement and the change in category-specific tips.
- Cybercrime & Digital Safety Initiative – a program tackling online crime, fraud and digital threats.
- Collaboration Award – a program working with other programs to share resources or technology, run joint projects, or raise awareness together.
Corporate & Private Sector Awards
For companies, not-for-profits, NGOs and civil society organisations achieving outstanding results, whether or not they work directly with a Crime Stoppers program.
- Outstanding Enhanced Safety Award – significant contributions to public safety through intelligence sharing, surveillance or crime prevention.
- Corporate Leadership in Crime Prevention – commitment shown through funding, awareness campaigns or technology development.
- Technology & Innovation in Security – cutting-edge security technology or digital solutions that improve crime detection or prevention.
- Retail & Business Crime Prevention – outstanding measures to reduce fraud, theft or organised retail crime.
- Public-Private-Partnership in Crime Reduction – collaboration between law enforcement and the private sector on intelligence sharing, joint operations or security initiatives.
- Cybersecurity Leadership Award – excellence in cybercrime awareness, training and prevention, data protection and digital threat mitigation.
How it works
Key dates
- Awards openMonday 1 June 2026
- Awards closeMonday 31 July 2026, midnight New York time
- Winners formally announced15 October 2026
Eligibility
Open to Crime Stoppers programs, law enforcement agencies, private security firms, businesses and corporations, and media agencies. All entries must relate to activities conducted last calendar year.
Entry fees
Individual Recognition, Crime Stoppers Program and Media Partner Awards are free for programs that are members of CSI, or members of a National or Regional entity that is a CSI member. For all other Crime Stoppers programs, USD 50 per submission.
Media agencies entering direct: USD 100 per submission. Corporate and Private Sector Awards: USD 200 per submission.
Judging
Entries are assessed on impact, innovation, scalability and alignment with the Crime Stoppers mission. The Judging Panel is drawn from crime prevention, corporate security and law enforcement, supported by the CSI Global Annual Awards Team.
Join us as a sponsor
Sponsorship of the Global Annual Awards runs in parallel with the 2026 World Summit in Panama on 14-16 October, with key recipients honoured at the Summit and Awards Gala Dinner on Thursday 15 October.
All four award categories can be sponsored individually, or one company can take the full suite and the 2026 naming rights.
Full details and sponsor benefits are in the World Summit Prospectus. For tailored options, contact Gill Wilson, Head of Sponsorship and Fundraising.
The detail
Terms and conditions
- All submissions must relate to activity conducted last calendar year.
- Any Crime Stoppers program entering, whether formally affiliated with CSI or not, must be a member in good standing with its Regional or National entity, or must operate in line with the fundamental principles of the Crime Stoppers ethos: a strictly anonymous reporting channel, registration as a not-for-profit charity governed by an independent board, and a formal agreement with law enforcement for the receipt of anonymous tips.
- Nominees for Individual Recognition Awards agree to media publicity and promotion associated with the Awards, including use of any photos submitted or taken at the presentation ceremony.
- Nominees for an Individual Recognition Award cannot have previously received the same award.
- Entities nominating for a Corporate & Private Sector Award agree to media publicity and promotion associated with the Awards.
- All criteria should be addressed in submissions.
- Supporting documents and images must accompany a submission.
- Supporting documents and images may be used and distributed by CSI for media and promotional purposes.
- Incomplete submissions, or submissions entered in a false community size category, will be disqualified.
- Decisions of the Judging Panel are final.
Hints and tips
- Gather everything before you start: information, supporting documents, images, URLs and social media handles.
- Read the guidelines for your award category, because they are not all the same.
- Check the entry criteria to make sure you are in the right category.
- Complete the correct entry form and fill in every field.
- Keep your answers short and to the point.
- Use a separate entry form for each submission.
- For a Crime Stoppers Program Award, double-check the community size your program serves.
- Address the criteria for the category and clearly demonstrate what was achieved.
- Include all relevant URLs, links and social handles, and test that they work.
- Provide a 50-word synopsis for publicity purposes.
- For an Individual Recognition Award, include a 100-word bio and at least one recent high-resolution head and shoulders photo.
- Check your spelling, because this is how names will appear on the awards themselves.
- Email supporting documents and your program or company logo to awards@crimestoppersinternational.org.
- Do one final check before you submit.
What evidence do I need to provide for results or impact?
The Judging Panel looks for objective measures that answer what results were achieved, how the project was effective, and how it changed community awareness, understanding or engagement. That might be a basic post-implementation review of your campaign, or a formal evaluation by a market research agency.
Can I resubmit a nominee for an Individual Recognition Award?
Yes, as long as they have not already been recognised in the category you are putting them forward for.
Can I resubmit a previously nominated campaign, project or initiative?
Yes, but you must demonstrate significant change or progress since it was last submitted, explain what has changed, and set out why it is worth reconsidering.
What does a program “in good standing” mean?
A Regional or National entity, local program or corporation that is a paid-up member of Crime Stoppers International, or has financial terms approved by CSI and, where appropriate, is certified as a member.
Where do I send my entry form and supporting documents?
Entry forms are submitted through the online awards platform by the closing date. Supporting documents, high-resolution logos (.png preferred) and head and shoulders photos of nominees (.jpg preferred) are emailed to awards@crimestoppersinternational.org.
Will my submission be returned after judging?
No, entries cannot be returned.
What if I cannot find the information I need?
Email awards@crimestoppersinternational.org and we will do our best to help.
Winners announced in Panama
Key award recipients are honoured at the Summit and Awards Gala Dinner on 15 October 2026, alongside the CSI World Summit.