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In an effort to make it easier for teenagers to report wrong doing, the Newport Police Department has set up a system through which teenagers can text or e-mail the police department to notify them about shady activity or crime that they witness. The system was designed to cater to the technology that teens feel the most comfortable working with: their cell phones.

The Newport Police Department does not mean to stereotype teenagers or imply that they would be less likely to simply call in nefarious activity; the system was set up as an acknowledgement that teenagers have more experience with texting and using their cell phones as more than simple telephones.

Teenagers are quite adept at sending text messages and e-mails via their cell phones. They are far more comfortable with this technology than adults and the Newport authorities acknowledge that the text messaging/e-mail system allows teenagers to report uncomfortable situations subtly. The Newport authorities hope that the anonymity guaranteed by the system will encourage teenagers to be more active in keeping police "in the loop."

In an effort to help the teenagers feel more involved in the launch of this program, the Newport Police Department worked with Newport high school and middle school students to develop two slogans for the program: "Text it, Send it, Help End it!" and "Text the 411 to 911 at nocrime@nngov.com." They have also been working with the students to design releases and brochures that educate the rest of the public about the program.

It is important to note that the new e-mail address is not actually a part of the Crime Line program'a program that lets people report crimes anonymously over the telephone. The Newport Police Department insists, however, that they will take every available avenue to ensure the anonymity of the person sending in the tips. The department acknowledges that many teenagers do not report the crimes they see because they are afraid of retribution from the criminal and of repercussions from their peer groups.

The Chief of Police in Newport recently told News Channel Three that the program was put into place because the department believes that young people are "in the know" about what goes on in the Newport community and that the new program was developed as a way to cater to their comfort zone and encourage them to get involved. He acknowledges that teenagers seem to communicate almost primarily via text message and cell phone and hopes that the ease with which they can now report crimes will help teenagers feel like stronger members of the Newport community.

It is certainly true that teenagers are very adept at text messaging and sending e-mail via a cell phone and they certainly are privy to quite a lot of information that adults tend to overlook or ignore. Hopefully more communities will take Newport's lead and develop a crime reporting program that allows tipsters to keep their anonymity while helping the police keep the community safe.

For more information on the city of Newport, visit http://www.newportmicroblog.com and http://www.newportblog.net.

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