The state’s violence intervention and prevention hotline Safe2Tell saw a record increase in reports last month, according to the Colorado attorney general’s office.
In May, the program received 2,877 tips, an 84% increase in monthly tip volume compared with May last year. For the 2018-19 school year, Safe2Tell has received 18,916 actionable tips to date, a 22% increase from last school year. The most common tips dealt with suicide threats (421), drugs (228) and bullying (198).
Safe2Tell typically sees an increase in tips at the end of the school year, though officials think the May increase might be attributable to the April anniversary of the Columbine High School shooting and the recent shooting at the STEM School in Highlands Ranch.
Over the past two years, the service also saw a 1,055% increase in duplicate tips involving the same cases, indicating that students witnessing concerning behavior are becoming more willing to take action.
In a written statement, Attorney General Phil Weiser lauded students’ continued willingness to break the “code of silence” and wrote that more students are feeling empowered to take ownership of their schools to make their communities safer.
Once tips are made, local law enforcement and school district officials follow up to determine the credibility of each tip. Law enforcement and school districts have reported that about 97.5% of tips submitted this year were in good faith, with only 2.5% false tips — including pranks, jokes and misuse of the system, such as reporting a lost student ID.
Students can make anonymous tips to Safe2Tell 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 1-877-542-7233. Reports also can be made at Safe2Tell.org or through the Safe2Tell mobile app.