December Safe2Tell report shows 23% increase in tips when compared to November

Jan. 11, 2022 (DENVER)—Safe2Tell tip volume increased last month when compared to November, according to the monthly report released today.

In December, the program received 2,423 tips, a 23% increase in monthly tip volume compared to November 2021.

Suicide threats (298), threats (143), and welfare checks (137) were the top categories of tips reported to the program in December. Threats are typically general reports made about a potential act of violence against an individual or place, and welfare checks are usually reports that express concern about a peer.

Safe2Tell in December received a high number of duplicate tips as well, which are reports made regarding a concern or event that has already been reported. In December, Safe2Tell received 488 duplicates—a 104% increase compared to November. Safe2Tell anticipates this increase due to a TikTok challenge that led to school threats across the nation on Dec. 17.

“While social media challenges are a continually evolving facet of school safety, a high number of duplicate tips like we saw in December indicates students and school communities feel comfortable reporting their safety concerns,” said Attorney General Phil Weiser. “The more reports about a particular concern, the more information we can pass on to local teams who can more comprehensively address student safety.”

In this school year, false tips are 1.8% of all tips submitted to Safe2Tell. False tips are those that contain untrue information and are submitted with the intent to harm, injure, or bully another person.

In December, anonymous tips from students and other individuals successfully helped protect students’ safety. For example:

• A person reported that a student had an aerosol can. The school reported to Safe2Tell that it was spray paint and there were no signs of inhalation. The can was confiscated, parents were notified and school disciplinary action was taken.
• A person reported a student was using drug paraphernalia in the bathroom. The school and law enforcement reported that they notified parents, took school disciplinary action, and made an arrest based on the report.

The following is an example of unintentional misuse of the program:

• A person reported finding a student ID on a walkway.

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 a conduit of information for distributing anonymous tips to local law enforcement and school officials pursuant to state law.

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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