Re: 3/27/01 - WTNH: Do rewards really work?
Do rewards really work?
(Stratford-WTNH, Mar. 27, 2001 7:25 PM) _ Reward money in Connecticut is not usually as high as in the Jovin case. But, do rewards work?
News Channel Erin Cox talked to a woman who's brother was murdered: video.wtnh.com
"In my brothers case it hasn't solved the murder, obviously," says Sloka Briggs, Victim's Sister.
The murder of Sloka Briggs' brother is still unsolved, two years after he was shot outside his Stratford variety store.
The family is frustrated, even putting up a billboard announcing reward dollars.
"The killer needs to be caught. Tempt them with whatever you need to solve the case," says Briggs.
State law allows the Governor to issue up to a $50,000 reward leading to a conviction.
Of the 359 rewards issued, only 25 have been paid since 1967.
Waterbury State's Attorney John Connelly says rewards don't guarantee results.
"We've had seven or eight cases where we've asked for rewards and is only one case I can recall that generated information which lead to an arrest and conviction," says Connelly.
Sam Reiger of the groups Survivors of Homicide says the rewards seem to come when the trail is already cold.
"Do it right up front. Don't wait for weeks or months or years to go by before offering the reward, because people may be long gone," says Sam Reiger, Survivors Of Homicide.
Briggs says the reward renews her faith that her brothers killer will be found.
"Everytime that there is a lead and police investigate it's a little bit of hope whether it comes to fold or not," says Briggs.
In order to collect a reward, the information given must lead to an arrest and conviction.
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