Pendleton » A Crime Stoppers group hopes to generate tips for police by broadcasting features about unsolved crimes to state prison inmates.

Short segments about unsolved felonies are being broadcast to inmates on closed- circuit televisions at the medium-security Correctional Industrial Facility in Pendleton, officials said.

The broadcasts consist of a photo, sketch or surveillance image of someone suspected of committing a crime and a brief synopsis of the crime, said Tom Kern, program director for Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana.

The inmates are able to call Crime Stoppers anonymously to offer information on the case. If the tip leads to an arrest, the inmate can designate someone on the outside for a $1,000 cash reward.

If the program is successful, it could be expanded to other state prisons, Kern said.

Tim Horan, a spokesman for the 1,400-inmate prison 20 miles northeast of Indianapolis, said he is confident that inmates won't hesitate to offer tips.

Inmates already offer valuable information on others behind bars, he said.