Rewards Offered for Terrorism Tips
Over $77 million Paid to Providers of Tips about Terrorists
Rewards for Justice Program (RFJ) is one of the most valuable assets in the fight against international terrorism. It is a non-governmental, non-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization that is affiliated with the U.S. Department of State for the purpose of raising and providing private contributions in the identification and apprehension of terrorists operating the United States and abroad.
The group approached the Department of State shortly after the September 11 (9/11) attacks and requested approval to raise money through donations from the general public to support the RFJ program.
Under the Rewards for Justice Program the U.S. Secretary of State offers cash awards that prevent or favorably resolve acts. RFJ’s goal is to bring international terrorist to justice and prevent acts of terrorism. The U.S. Secretary of State may authorize rewards for information that leads to the arrest or conviction of anyone who plans, commits, conspires, aids and abets, or attempts international terrorist acts against U.S. citizens or property. It includes leads to the location of a key terrorist leader, or disrupts terrorism financing.
Rewards for Justice History
The Rewards for Justice, a U.S. Department of State’s Counter-Terrorism Program, was established by the 1984 Act to Combat International Terrorism, Public Law 98-533. It is administered by the State Department’s Bureau of Diplomatic Security. Under the US Patriot Act of 2001, the Secretary of State was authorized to offer or pay rewards of greater than $5 million to combat terrorism in the United States. In the case of Bin Laden, a reward of $25 million was offered.
While the law governing the Rewards for Justice Program is aimed at terrorism directed against Americans, the U.S. State Department shares information with other nations whose citizens are at risk.
Rewards for Justice Successes
Rewards for Justice has paid out over $77 million to more than 50 individuals for information that prevented international terrorists attack or helped to bring justice to those involved in prior acts.
For example, on June 7, 2007, RFJ distributed $10 million as rewards to a group of Filipino citizens for information that led to two notorious high-ranking leaders of the Sayyaf Group. The terrorists were responsible for the kidnapping and deaths of American citizens.
Rewards Criteria
Rewards for Justice will award anyone who provides actionable information that will help prevent or favorably resolve acts of international terrorism against the U.S. anywhere in the world. If a source reports a terrorist involved in either the planning or execution of an attack against U.S persons and/or property who is then arrested or convicted as a result of that information, the source may be eligible for a reward.
Information regarding the identification of a location of a key leader in an international terrorist organization may be eligible for a reward. Rewards may also be paid for information about an individual or organization that is trafficking drugs to finance acts of international terrorism or to raise money to sustain or support a terrorist organization.
Every U.S citizen has the responsibility to report suspicious activity which may be associated with terrorist activity. All responses are kept strictly confidential and the names of the individuals who receive a reward payment is not usually publicly disclosed. In some high profile cases, payment of the reward may be announced but not the information that was provided. With the cooperation of U.S government agencies, such as the FBI, Terrorist Screening Center, and the Terrorism Task Force, the chances for a terrorist attack are greatly reduced.
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