Story Created:
Feb 19, 2012 at 7:26 PM MDT
Story Updated:
Feb 20, 2012 at 4:55 PM MDT
Grand Junction - A program designed to allow students to stay anonymous while reporting a serious situation, officials say has prevented nearly 2,000 dangerous incidents from occurring. Safe2tell is a nonprofit organization that started in Colorado back in 2004, and executive director Susan Pyne said it's something that 36 other states requested to replicate.
The nonprofit organization is a communication system that allows Colorado K-12 students to report a criminal-like activity anonymously through phone, web, or text. Officials say it was created because of the Columbine High School Massacre. Pyne stated that after the shooting, a study was done which showed 81% of people know about a dangerous implication before it actually happens.
Colorado State Senator (R) Steve King, proposed a change for more sufficient legal protection for the text and email methods.
"They text, and what the legislation does is allows texting and emailing to be brought in. It's new technology for a new generation," added King. His proposed change has unanimously passed the Senate and awaits a decision from the House.
Officials say since the first of this year, safe2tell received nearly 10,000 calls, texts and web reports. Preventing 28 school attacks, over 300 sexually-related crimes, around 500 threats of violence, and nearly 650 cases of suicidal behavior and threats.
To reach safe2tell, you can call the hot line number at 877-542-SAFE or go to their website to report a problem at
safe2tell.org. Pyne says they're working on launching a mobile app for phones, too.
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John Simmons said on Tuesday, Feb 21 at 6:48 AM
Relax. You say "Just wait" but kids have always known how to cry wolf. But in the case of Safe2Tell very few kids have called in a false report because the school outreach programs conducted by Safe2Tell help build a culture of trust between kids and responsible adults. This approach has paid off. Since 2004, kids calling Safe2Tell have helped prevent 28 planned school attacks, and hundreds of teen suicides. Kids reaching out have addressed issues that worry them the most like assaults, drugs and alcohol, threats of violence, cutting, domestic violence, fighting, animal cruelty, gang-related issues, thefts, harassment, guns and weapons, sexting, sexually-related crimes, child abuse, and vandalism. Please help spread the word: Safe2Tell is a program that works. More Safe2Tell means less tragedy. What's not to love?
Anonymous said on Sunday, Feb 19 at 8:31 PM
Who is john galt?
Yeah said on Sunday, Feb 19 at 8:01 PM
Just wait until the kids figure out that they can really mess with someone they don't like by merely lying. Police states like this sort of thing. It sounds good to the bureaucrats, and the people who want to be "protected" but in practice it turns out to be a really really really bad idea. I suggest that people start lining up their attorneys and buying that legal insurance now, this is going to turn really ugly quickly.
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