Submit a Tip or Case Information

Do you have information that may help solve a missing or murdered case? Here are three ways in which you can submit tips and help law enforcement:

• Use this Tip resource to report federal crimes and submit tips regarding missing and murdered cases occurring in Indian Country.
• When submitting a Tip, be as specific as possible.
• Submit your information only once. An investigator will be in touch with you.

BIA offers rewards for information leading to arrest or helps lead to closure of unsolved missing or murdered cases. The standard reward amount for each award may be up to $5,000. Depending on the specific details given, BIA may increase the amount.

Once a tipster submits a tip, they receive a specific number, which is how they maintain confidentiality. Tipsters need to hold onto this number in order to check on the status of their tip. 

Once investigators verify the tip(s) helped lead to arrest or closure of a case, BIA will then pay the award. BIA may divide the reward amount if multiple individuals submit tips, depending on the information provided and how the tips were used.

NOTE: Pursuant to 25 USC 2803, paragraph (4), OJS may offer and pay a reward of an offense committed only in Indian country, or in the arrest of an offender against the United States. Therefore, OJS is unable to offer rewards for tips / information when the case falls outside of its jurisdiction. 

Award Eligibility

1. For tipster to be eligible for $5,000 monetary rewards, the case requires a prosecution as it relates to homicide investigations or if the case needs to be solved or brings closure to the case as it related to missing persons.
2. For tipster to be eligible for partial monetary reward ($2,500), the tips provide information resulting in the investigation making substantial progress that would not have otherwise developed without the received tip.
3. For tipster to be eligible for monetary reward ($100-$1,500), the tips provide information resulting in the investigation making significant progress that would not have otherwise developed without the received tip.
4. If the tipster is found to be involved with the missing person or homicide case as a suspect, then the tipster is not eligible for a reward. 
5. If the tipster becomes deceased, the process becomes void

Definitions

Substantial: of considerable importance, size, or worth. The information received from a tipster allowed the investigating agent to expand potential witness list to identify potential evidence, suspects, or new investigative leads that in totality that bring the case closer to the case solvability.

Significant: Having or likely to have influence or effect: Important.  The information received from a tipster allowed the investigating agent to gain information to further the case investigation.