PENDLETON — In what officials say is the first program of its kind in the nation, the Indiana Department of Correction and Crime Stoppers are teaming up to encourage inmates to give anonymous tips about unsolved crimes.

Short segments about unsolved felonies will be broadcast via closed-circuit televisions located in the prison. Inmates at the medium-security Correctional Industrial Facility would then be able to anonymously call Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana if they have information. If the tip leads to an arrest, the inmates could get cash rewards of up to $1,000, which are raised through donations.

The program began several weeks ago, but was officially unveiled to the public at a press conference Dec. 22.

Tom Kern, program director for Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana, said the segments consist of a photo, suspect sketch or surveillance image of someone suspected of committing a crime. A brief synopsis of the crime is also given. The information is the same as what is on Crime Stoppers’ Web site.

And officials have the benefit of a captive audience.

“All the cases the inmates see are the same cases the general public can see,” Kern said. “People talk. Maybe they knew someone who committed a murder.”

If the program is successful, organizers hope to spread it to other prisons across the state. They also hope to bring in other Crime Stoppers organizations into the fold, Kern said. Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana includes Marion County and 16 surrounding counties, but not Madison.

“As we get it nailed down, and all the kinks worked out, we’ll reach out to other Crime Stoppers in the state,” he said.

Kern said organizers don’t believe inmates will be less inclined to offer anonymous tips on fellow criminals. Offenders use the prison phones to call a special number to contact Crime Stoppers. If they become eligible for a reward, someone on the outside has to get it for them.

“It works, getting anonymous information,” he said. “So why not try getting it from these guys?”

Tim Horan, prison spokesman, is hopeful the program will generate some useful crime-fighting information. Like Kern, he said he’s confident inmates won’t hesitate to offer tips. He said inmates already offer valuable information on fellow offenders behind bars, such as giving tips on who has a cell phone or drugs in their cell.

“I think it will work,” Horan said. “It’s confidential. There’s no caller ID. It’s paid in cash. I think it will work. It’s another way for people to network information.”

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On the Web:

To learn about Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana, including unsolved cases, visit www.crimetips.org