December Safe2Tell report shows 40% uptick for school year and clear impact on student safety

Jan. 9, 2024 (DENVER) – The first semester of the 2023-2024 school year saw a substantial 40% increase in Safe2Tell report submissions compared to the same point last year, as indicated by the monthly report released today. Additionally, the report underscores the vital role these reports played in preventing potential school shootings and attacks.

Last month’s anonymous reports included alarming instances, such as a student researching the Columbine tragedy with intentions of committing a school shooting, and another with details about peers making racial slurs and discussing planned school attacks. In both cases, swift responses from school teams successfully averted potential threats.

“Reviewing December’s report, it is evident that Colorado remains committed to prioritizing the safety of our schools, with Safe2Tell continuing to be an indispensable tool in preventing school violence and ensuring our children’s safety,” said Attorney General Phil Weiser. “This data gives us a lot to be proud of, notably, the diligent and compassionate response by our schools and law enforcement.  At the same time, I remain very concerned about the challenges our youth is facing.”

December 2023 saw the report volume for the 2023-2024 school year rise to 12,438, an increase from the 8,892 reports at the same point in the 2022-2023 school year. The program received 2,394 reports in December, with an expected 20% decrease from November due to the holiday break. Top categories of reports included suicide (269), bullying (241), and school complaints (232).

In this school year, false reports are 3.7% 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.

Some further details about the incidents outlined in this month’s report:

  • A person reported a student researching the Columbine tragedy and wanting to commit a school shooting. School teams immediately conducted a threat assessment and transferred the student to a facility where they were placed on a hold. The student’s parents were contacted, and a safety plan was created upon the student’s arrival after winter break.
  • A person reported their peers were making racial slurs and comments about planned school attacks. School teams investigated and spoke with the students mentioned in the report, who admitted to making the comments. The students’ parents were contacted, school disciplinary action was taken, the students were placed on safety plans, and are receiving counseling.

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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Media Contact:
Mallory Boyce
Communications Specialist
720-508-6787 (office) | 720-219-1898 (cell)
Mallory.Boyce@coag.gov

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