Authorities hope to receive more tips about unsolved crimes as a result of a new state law aimed at protecting the anonymity of people who provide information to Crime Stoppers.

The law, which took effect this month, makes it illegal to knowingly reveal the identities of Crime Stoppers tipsters. The misdemeanor crime carries a maximum penalty of one year in jail and a $1,000 fine. If the identity was released for financial gain, the crime becomes a felony punishable by up to five years imprisonment.

Trey Walker, a spokesman for state Attorney General Henry McMaster, said the state's 16 Crime Stoppers chapters focus their efforts on the most serious crimes, and tipsters need to know they will be protected from retaliation.

"These are baddest of the bad, and folks need protection from these people," he said. "People need to be confident in the fact that if they pick up the phone and call Crime Stoppers their identities will remain anonymous under force of law."

McMaster proposed the legislation with House Judiciary Chairman Jim Harrison, R-Columbia, and Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott. The General Assembly approved the bill, and it went into law Wednesday without Gov. Mark Sanford's signature.

Anonymity is key to Crime Stoppers' success. Instead of providing their names, callers are issued a code number. If their tip results in an arrest, callers become eligible for a cash reward that can be collected by using the code number.

Charleston police Cpl. Fred Bowie, coordinator of the Lowcountry Crime Stoppers chapter, said the organization also avoids noting the callers' gender or other information that could tip someone off to their identity. The new law provides another layer of insulation against the threat of discovery, he said.

The Lowcountry chapter, which serves Charleston, Berkeley, Dorchester, Colleton and Georgetown counties, received more than 1,300 tips last year, and the information it receives generally leads to about 100 arrests annually, Bowie said.

The new law also establishes a statewide Crime Stoppers Council to better coordinate and support efforts among local chapters. Under the law, drug forfeiture money can now be used to help fund Crime Stoppers' rewards. Judges also can order defendants to reimburse Crime Stoppers chapters for rewards that led to their capture, said Noah Moore, director of diversion programs for the 9th Circuit Solicitor's Office and president of the new statewide Crime Stoppers Council.

Reach Glenn Smith at 937-5556 or gsmith@postandcourier.com.