January Safe2Tell report shows decrease in reports when compared to December

Feb. 8, 2022 (DENVER)—Safe2Tell report volume decreased last month when compared to December, according to the monthly report released today.

In January, the program received 1,582 reports, a 35% decrease in monthly report volume compared to December 2021. To date for the 2021-22 school year, Safe2Tell has received 11,146 reports.

Suicide threats (255), bullying (140), and drugs (106) were the top categories of reports in January.

“As students are still adjusting to in-person classes during the pandemic, we are seeing bullying and drug reports rising back to the top of our report categories,” said Attorney General Phil Weiser. “Studies show that bystanders can stop bullying, so we encourage students to stand up for one another if they can safely do so, tell a trusted adult, or submit an anonymous report to Safe2Tell.”

In this school year, false reports are 1.8% 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 January, anonymous reports from students and other individuals successfully helped protect students’ safety. For example:

• A person reported that a child might be in danger at home. Law enforcement investigated and arrested an adult on suspicion of attempting to severely harm the child.
• A person reported that a student was composing music that referenced shooting and stabbing individuals. Local teams investigated and reported that the student’s lyrics were part of a music style and not directed at anyone.

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

• A student asked Safe2Tell to call their school and let them know that the roads were dangerous due to snow. The student was encouraged to go directly to the school with this concern.

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 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, 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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