If you have a constitutional right to confront your accuser, then why do we have anonymous tip lines?

Question

Where you don't have to leave your name? Especially ones that offer rewards to anonymous tipsters.

A person who was so inclined could call Crimestoppers and have the police raid the house of anyone they felt like.

Answer 1

In the United States, you do not have a Constitutional right to confront your accuser.

The Sixth Amendment grants that  "In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to... be confronted with the witnesses against him".

Thus, your right is to confront witness at your trial.  This prevents anonymous statements from being introduced at your trial, but they can be used as evidence to get a search warrant, or to further develop the case or find more evidence.

While a person could call Crimestoppers, they cannot "have the police raid the house of anyone they felt like".  To search someone's house, you have to have a warrant, issued by a magistrate (judge), based on probable cause, and the warrant must specifically describe what will be searched (i.e. the requirements of the Fourth Amendment).

Furthermore, anonymous tips may or may not be used as evidence to get a search warrant.  If the police want to use an informant, the "totality of the circumstances" must show that the informant's information seems true, that the informant is reliable, and that the informant has some basis for their knowledge.  If you want to learn more, look up Illinois v. Gates, 462 U.S. 213 (1983).

I hope this helps!

Answer 2

Once they have collected the evidence, the state becomes the accuser, not the person who gave the tip.  For example, Jane calls a tip line and says that John has kiddy p**n on his computer.  The police find kiddy p**n.  The state makes a case against John.  Now the state is accusing him.  Of course it is relevant that Jane called in determining whether or not the warrant was valid in the first place but she really is no longer the accuser, the state is accusing John of committing the crime.  

Answer 3

The person giving the tip is not the accuser.  If the tip leads to evidence of a crime, the DA can choose to prosecute, the DA becomes the accuser.  The tipper merely provided evidence.