Some call it ratting. Others prefer finking, squealing or tattling. Whatever you call it, government, police and school officials who depend on informants are experiencing a boom in the blab business.
When the Chicago city clerk’s office began publicizing its plans to track down city sticker scofflaws in public parking garages, calls reporting violations to investigators doubled, said Melissa Stratton, a spokeswoman for the clerk’s office.
In November, the DuPage County-based Illinois State Crime Commission offered a $100 reward to anyone who reported underage drinking parties to police. The group produced posters for schools with a picture of a rat and the words “Show me the money.”
Jerry Elsner, the commission’s executive director, claims the program is a success, because area police have told him no parties have been reported. He notes that the commission has not paid any $100 rewards.
“We’re not asking kids to rat out their friends,” Elsner said. “What we’re suggesting is that you call in a party that you weren’t invited to. Or let’s say you’re kicked out of the party. Or let’s say your girlfriend was invited but you weren’t.”
But some students are turning on their classmates, even without a monetary incentive. Nereyda Brito, 17, a junior at Senn High School, alerted teachers recently that a party was taking place near school grounds.
“I told them because I really care about my friends, and if they got drunk or smoked weed, they might have a car accident,” Brito said. “I care about my friends.”
Joseph Ruiz, Senn assistant principal, says the Columbine massacre and the Sept. 11 attacks have made students more vigilant.
“There’s more of a willingness to report things that are of concern,” Ruiz said.
The will seems to be there, but is this the way? Loyola professor David Ozar, director of the school’s Center for Ethics and Social Justice, says turning somebody in, even with the best of intentions, brings with it the risk of “ruining relationships and lessening yourself.”
“If a person with sincere judgment thinks that a serious public harm is going to happen and tries to prevent it, it’s probably not going to undermine their character to do so,” Ozar said.
“There has to be a real conscientious judgment about what counts as a serious public harm.”
Marina Scott, principal of Fremd High School in northwest suburban Palatine, believes offering money to teens to turn in other teens will not solve long-term problems.
“We encourage kids to report things to us, but we don’t bribe them with money,” Scott said. “We come at them with what the effect is, that it’s going to be a safer school for you.”–Tribune contributed
Tattling pays
Law enforcement agencies have always depended a great deal on informants, as has the U.S. government. Qusai and Uday Hussein were reportedly found after $15 million bounties were placed on their heads.
The FBI is offering a $10,000 reward to anyone offering assistance in finding Tionda and Diamond Bradley, the sisters who disappeared from their South Side home in 2001. Anyone turning in somebody on the FBI’s 10 most wanted list will net a $50,000 reward if the tip leads to a conviction.
FBI spokesman Ross Rice, says most cases are opened as a result of tips from the public, and any money they pay out in rewards they get back in savings on manpower and resources.
“How much are we saving in manpower and resources?” Rice said. “When you quantify it in that way, we’re hundreds of thousands of dollars ahead.”
But is it right or wrong?
“I’m not going to say it’s right or wrong to be motivated by money; that’s an individual’s own preference,” Rice said. “Their own conscience can be their guide.”
–Jimmy Greenfield
