Safe2Tell reflects on record tip submissions during 2018-2019 school year

August 6, 2019 (DENVER, Colo.)— Safe2Tell released its monthly report today. In July, the program received 551 tips, an 81 percent increase in monthly tip volume compared to July 2018. Suicide threats (110) and drugs (61) continued to be the top categories of tips reported to the program.  For the 2018-19 school year (SY), which concluded on July 31, 2019, Safe2Tell received 19,861 actionable tips, a 28 percent increase over 2017-18 SY. The new Safe2Tell SY runs August 1, 2019 – July 31, 2020.

During the summer, Safe2tell historically experiences a decrease in tips primarily because school is not in session. The same trend occurs when schools close during holiday and break weeks. Although only 551 reports were received in July 2019, it was an 81 percent increase from reports received in July 2018.

“This past school year, Colorado was forced to reflect on past incidents of school violence while grappling with unexpected threats and tragedies. Safe2Tell data mirrored this reality with significant increases in overall tips and duplicate tips, demonstrating that students feel more comfortable using the system to report potential threats around them. Year after year, Safe2Tell is proving to be an invaluable tool and trusted resource that helps students break the code of silence and prevent further tragedies,” said Attorney General Phil Weiser, whose office oversees Safe2Tell.

Cyber bullying remains in the top six categories, potentially because students are not in school and have more time to be online and access social media.

“Using online platforms to bully or harass another individual is a serious issue that carries legal consequences. We encourage families to continue talking to their children about treating everyone with respect and the long lasting ramifications of their digital footprints. When it comes to your online activities, always think about what you post before doing so,” said Essi Ellis, director of Safe2Tell.

In July, anonymous tips from students and other individuals successfully helped prevent incidents of self-harm and harm to others. For example:

  • A tip requested a welfare check on a student. Police and medical aid responded and transported the individual to a hospital.
  • A tip involved a weapon. Police responded and arrested a juvenile on a weapons charge.

State law mandates that local law enforcement and school districts follow up on each tip to determine whether they are credible or not. To date for this school year, local law enforcement and school districts have reported that 2.42 percent of the tips submitted were false. False tips are those that contain false information and are submitted with the intent to harm, injure, or bully another person.

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; it is a conduit of information for distributing anonymous tips to local law enforcement, school officials, and other appropriate responding parties.

To make a report, individuals can call 1-877-542-7233 from anywhere, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Reports also can be made at Safe2Tell.org or through the Safe2Tell mobile app which is available on the Apple App Store or Google Play.

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CONTACT
Lawrence Pacheco, Director of Communications
(720) 508-6553 office | (720) 245-4689 cell
Email: Lawrence.pacheco@coag.gov

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