NEWS RELEASE
ATTORNEY GENERAL PHIL WEISER
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Safe2Tell report volume increased 35% in September 2023 when compared to the same month last year, according to the monthly report released today.
In September, the program received 2,722 reports, which is an 85% increase over August reports. This increase is typical for September reporting, as it’s the first month of the school year students are in attendance for the entire month. Bullying (305), school complaints (245), and suicide threats (233) were among the top categories of reports. To date for the 2023-2024 school year, Safe2Tell has received 4,190 reports.
“In general, the program is experiencing a higher number of reports this school year compared to previous years, which happens to coincide with a recent increase in training efforts,” said Attorney General Phil Weiser. “With increased education comes heightened responsibility and know-how, and we commend Colorado students for taking this obligation seriously and reporting when it's the right thing to do."
Safe2Tell expanded its team by adding an additional trainer last year, resulting in a 60% increase in combined school and law enforcement trainings compared to the previous year.
Stacey Jenkins, Director of Safe2Tell, explained, "While the Safe2Tell program enjoys great awareness and recognition, our ambassadors have discovered that many students are uncertain about when or how to make a report. During the 2022-2023 school year, our diligent trainers began bridging this gap, which we believe is impacting the reporting volume this year."
In this school year, false reports are 3% of all reports submitted to Safe2Tell. False reports are those that contain untrue information and are submitted with the intent to harm, injure, or bully another person.
In September, anonymous reports from students and other individuals successfully helped protect students’ safety. For example:
- A person reported a student expressed they were struggling with their mental health and wanted to be hospitalized. Local teams conducted a welfare check and spoke with the student’s parent. The hospital admitted the student, and local teams conducted a suicide assessment. As a result, the student is now on a safety plan.
- A person reported their concerns about a student's wellbeing and safety at home. Local team investigated and spoke with the student, which led to DHS involvement.
Safe2Tell is a successful violence intervention and prevention program for students to anonymously report threats to their own, and others’, safety. Safe2Tell is not an emergency response unit nor mental health counseling service provider; it is an information pathway for distributing anonymous reports to local law enforcement and school officials pursuant to state law.
To make a report, individuals can call 1-877-542-7233 from anywhere, at any time. Reports also can be made at Safe2Tell.org, by texting S2TCO to 738477, or through the Safe2Tell mobile app which is available on the Apple App Store or Google Play.
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