§ 2510.1.Crime Stoppers Organizations - Privileged Communications - Orders For Production of Records
Chapter 40: Oklahoma Evidence Code · Last amended November 1, 2010 · Last verified August 3, 2026
In one sentenceSection 2510.1 makes a tip to a certified crime stoppers organization inadmissible and shields its records from compelled production, except when a criminal defendant moves for release of records the court finds, after in camera review, contain exculpatory evidence.
1."Crime stoppers organization" means a private, nonprofit organization that is certified by the Oklahoma Crime Stoppers Association, accepts and expends donations for rewards to persons who report to the organization information concerning criminal activity and that forwards the information to the appropriate law enforcement agency;
2."Privileged communication" means a statement by any person who wishes to remain anonymous to a certified crime stoppers organization for the purpose of reporting alleged criminal activity; and
3."Certified" means crime stopper organizations that annually meet the certification standards for crime stoppers programs established by the Oklahoma Crime Stoppers Association to the extent those standards do not conflict with state statutes. The term "court" refers to all municipal and district courts within this state.
B.Evidence of a privileged communication between a person submitting a report of a criminal act to a certified crime stoppers organization and the person who accepts the report on behalf of the organization is not admissible in a court or an administrative proceeding.
C.Records of a certified crime stoppers organization concerning a privileged communication of criminal activity may not be compelled to be produced before a court or other tribunal except upon the motion of a criminal defendant to the court in which the offense is being tried that the records or report contains evidence that is exculpatory to the defendant in the trial of that offense.
D.Upon the motion of a defendant under subsection C of this section, the court may issue an order for production of the records or report. The court shall conduct an in camera inspection of materials produced under the order to determine whether the records or report contain evidence that is exculpatory to the defendant.
E.If the court determines that the records or report produced contain evidence that is exculpatory to the defendant, the court shall present the evidence to the defendant in a form that does not disclose the identity of the person who was the source of the evidence, unless the state or federal constitution requires the disclosure of the identity of that person.
F.The court shall return to the certified crime stoppers organization the records or report that are produced under this section but not disclosed to the defendant. The certified crime stoppers organization shall store the records or report until the conclusion of the criminal trial and the expiration of the time for all direct appeals in the case.
Amendment History
Added by Laws 2002, HB 2032, c. 323, §1, eff. 11/1/2002; Amended by Laws 2010, HB 2837, c.
37, §1, eff. 11/1/2010.
Plain-English Summary
Subsection A defines a "certified crime stoppers organization" as a private nonprofit certified by the Oklahoma Crime Stoppers Association that pays reward money for tips about criminal activity and forwards those tips to law enforcement, and a "privileged communication" as an anonymous tipster's report to that organization. Subsection B makes evidence of that privileged communication inadmissible in court or in an administrative proceeding.
Subsection C protects the organization's records from being compelled into court, except on a criminal defendant's motion showing the records contain evidence exculpatory to the defendant in the trial of that offense. If the defendant makes that showing, subsection D has the court order production and conduct an in camera inspection to check for exculpatory material. Where the court finds exculpatory evidence, subsection E requires presenting it to the defendant in a form that withholds the source's identity, unless the state or federal constitution requires disclosing it -- and subsection F has the organization store any records not disclosed until the criminal trial and all direct appeals are over.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a crime stoppers tip be used as evidence in a criminal trial?
No. Section 2510.1(B) makes evidence of a privileged communication to a certified crime stoppers organization inadmissible in court or an administrative proceeding.
How can a defendant get access to crime stoppers records?
By moving the trial court to show the records contain evidence exculpatory to the defendant, which triggers an in camera inspection under Section 2510.1(D).
If exculpatory evidence is found, does the defendant learn the tipster's identity?
Not necessarily. Section 2510.1(E) requires disclosing the exculpatory evidence in a form that withholds the source's identity, unless the state or federal constitution requires otherwise.
What happens to crime stoppers records the court doesn't disclose?
Section 2510.1(F) has the organization store them until the criminal trial concludes and the time for all direct appeals expires.
Source & verification. Section text is reproduced verbatim from
Title 12 of the Oklahoma Statutes, enacted by the Oklahoma Legislature.
Last verified August 3, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as:oklahoma crime stoppers privilegeanonymous tip privilege oklahoma12 O.S. § 2510.1crime stoppers records production oklahoma