Colorado School Discipline Laws & Regulations: Referrals to Law Enforcement

Discipline Compendium

Colorado School Discipline Laws & Regulations: Referrals to Law Enforcement

Category: Partnerships between Schools and Law Enforcement
Subcategory: Referrals to Law Enforcement
State: Colorado

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LAWS

13-3-116. Restorative justice coordinating council–establishment–membership.

(1)(a) A council to provide assistance and education related to restorative justice programs is hereby established. The council shall be known as the "restorative justice coordinating council" and shall be established in the state judicial department within the office of the state court administrator. To the extent that resources permit, the restorative justice coordinating council shall support the development of restorative justice programs, serve as a central repository for information, assist in the development and provision of related education and training, and provide technical assistance to entities engaged in or wishing to develop restorative justice programs.

(b) In order to assess the efficacy of restorative justice practices in providing satisfaction to participants, the council shall develop a uniform restorative justice satisfaction evaluation by September 1, 2013. The evaluation must be based on research principles. The evaluation must include a preconference questionnaire for the offender and participating victims, if practicable, to establish a baseline and a postconference questionnaire that is suitable to administer to restorative justice participants, including community members, participating victims, and offenders.

(c)(I) The council shall develop a database of existing restorative justice programs in the state by December 31, 2013, and update it annually by December 31 of each year.

(II) The database must consist of the following information:

(A) The location of the restorative justice program;

(B) The types of restorative justice practices used in the program and the costs and fees associated with the practices; and

(C) The background, training, and restorative justice experience of the facilitators in the restorative justice program.

(2) The restorative justice coordinating council includes, at a minimum, the following:

(a) A member who represents a statewide juvenile justice council who shall be appointed by the executive director of the department of public safety;

(b) A representative from the division of youth services in the department of human services who is appointed by the executive director of the department of human services;

(c) A representative from the department of public safety who shall be appointed by the executive director of the department of public safety;

(d) A representative from the judicial department who shall be appointed by the state court administrator;

(e) Two representatives from a statewide organization or organizations whose primary purpose is related to the development and implementation of restorative justice programs and who shall be appointed by the executive director of the department of public safety;

(f) A district attorney with juvenile justice experience who shall be appointed by the executive director of the Colorado district attorneys' council;

(g) A victim's representative within the judicial department with restorative justice experience who shall be appointed by the state court administrator;

(h) A representative from the department of education who shall be appointed by the commissioner of education;

(i) A representative from the state board of parole appointed by the chair of the parole board;

(j) A representative from the department of corrections appointed by the executive director of the department of corrections;

(k) A representative from a nongovernment statewide organization representing victims appointed by the executive director of the department of public safety;

(l) Three restorative justice practitioners appointed by the state court administrator;

(m) A representative of the juvenile parole board appointed by the chair of the juvenile parole board;

(n) The state public defender or his or her designee;

(o) A judge appointed by the chief justice of the Colorado supreme court; and

(p) A representative of law enforcement appointed by the state court administrator based upon a recommendation from the restorative justice coordinating council.

(3) The restorative justice coordinating council shall select a chairperson from among the members of the council who shall serve a term to be determined by the council. The chairperson shall be responsible for convening the council at a frequency that shall be determined by the council.

(4) Members of the restorative justice coordinating council serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for expenses incurred while serving on the council.

(4.5) The restorative justice coordinating council may accept money from trainings and conferences and gifts, grants, or donations from any private or public source for the purpose of supporting restorative justice practices. All private and public money received by the restorative justice coordinating council from gifts, grants, or donations or any other source must be transmitted to the state treasurer, who shall credit the same to the restorative justice surcharge fund created pursuant to section 18-25-101, in addition to any money that may be appropriated to the fund directly by the general assembly.

22-1-126. Safe2tell program.

As described in section 24-31-606, C.R.S., there is established the safe2tell program with the primary purpose of providing students and the community with the means to relay information anonymously concerning unsafe, potentially harmful, dangerous, violent, or criminal activities, or the threat of these activities, to appropriate law enforcement and public safety agencies and school officials.

22-12-104. Liability.

(1) An educational entity and its employees are immune from suit for taking an action regarding the supervision, grading, suspension, expulsion, or discipline of a student while the student is on the property of the educational entity or under the supervision of the educational entity or its employees; except that immunity shall not apply if the action is committed willfully and wantonly and violates a statute, rule, or regulation or a clearly articulated policy of the educational entity. The burden of proving the violation shall rest with the plaintiff and must be established by clear and convincing evidence to the court as part of a summary proceeding. If at the summary proceeding the court finds a violation exists, the educational entity and its employee may raise immunity at trial under the provisions of this article and the "Colorado Governmental Immunity Act", article 10 of title 24, C.R.S.

(2) An educational entity and its employees are immune from suit for making a report consistent with federal law to the appropriate law enforcement authorities or officials of an educational entity if the individual making the report has reasonable grounds to suspect that a student is:

(a) Under the influence of alcoholic beverages or of a controlled substance not lawfully prescribed to the student;

(b) In possession of a firearm or alcoholic beverages or of a controlled substance not lawfully prescribed to the student;

(c) Involved in the illegal solicitation, sale, or distribution of firearms or alcoholic beverages or of a controlled substance.

(3) A person claiming to have suffered an injury by an educational entity or an employee, whether or not by a violation of a statute, rule, or regulation or a clearly articulated policy of the educational entity, shall file a written notice as provided in section 24-10-109, C.R.S., within one hundred eighty days after the date of discovery of the injury, regardless of whether the person then knew all of the elements of a claim or of a cause of action for the injury. Compliance with the provisions of this subsection (3) shall be a jurisdictional prerequisite to any action brought under the provisions of this article, and failure of compliance shall forever bar any such action.

22-32-109.1. Board of education–specific powers and duties–safe school plan–conduct and discipline code–safe school reporting requirements–school response framework–school resource officers–definitions.

(1) Definitions. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:

(a) "Action taken" means a specific type of discipline, including but not limited to the following categories of discipline:

(I) In-school suspension;

(II) Out-of-school suspension;

(III) Classroom removal in accordance with board policy;

(IV) Expulsion;

(V) Referral to law enforcement; or

(VI) Any other form of discipline, which shall be officially identified as part of a board policy.

(b.5) "Community partners" means, collectively, local fire departments, state and local law enforcement, local 911 agencies, interoperable communications providers, the safe2tell program described in section 24-31-606, C.R.S., local emergency medical service personnel, local mental health organizations, local public health agencies, local emergency management personnel, local or regional homeland security personnel, and school resource officers. […]

(e.5) "Law enforcement" includes any law enforcement agency, law enforcement officer, or school resource officer.

(f)(I) "Referral to law enforcement" means a communication between a school administrator, teacher, or other school employee and law enforcement that:

(A) Is initiated by the school administrator, teacher, or other school employee; and

(B) Concerns behavior by a student that the school administrator, teacher, or other school employee believes may constitute a violation of the school conduct and discipline code or a criminal or delinquent offense and for which the school administrator, teacher, or other school employee requests an investigation or other involvement by law enforcement.

(II) "Referral to law enforcement" does not include:

(A) Contact with law enforcement that is made for the purpose of education, prevention, or intervention regarding a student's behavior;

(B) Routine or incidental communication between a school administrator, teacher, or other school employee and law enforcement; or

(C) Any incident or communication that is initiated by law enforcement.

(g.5) "School resource officer" means a peace officer, as described in section 16-2.5-101, C.R.S., who has specialized training, as described in section 24-31-312, C.R.S., to work with school staff and students and who is assigned to a public school or charter school for the purpose of creating a safe learning environment and responding to all-hazard threats that may impact the school. […]

(3) Agreements with state agencies. Each board of education shall cooperate and, to the extent possible, develop written agreements with law enforcement, the juvenile justice system, and social services, as allowed under state and federal law, to keep each school environment safe. Each board of education shall adopt a policy whereby procedures will be used following instances of assault upon, disorderly conduct toward, harassment of, the making knowingly of a false allegation of child abuse against, or any alleged offense under the "Colorado Criminal Code" directed toward a school teacher or school employee or instances of damage occurring on the premises to the personal property of a school teacher or school employee by a student. Such procedures shall include, at a minimum, the following provisions:

(c) The school administration shall report the incident to the district attorney or appropriate local law enforcement, which shall, upon receiving such report, investigate the incident to determine the appropriateness of filing criminal charges or initiating delinquency proceedings.

22-32-146. School use of on-site peace officers as school resource officers.

(1) If a school resource officer or other law enforcement officer acting in his or her official capacity on school grounds, in a school vehicle, or at a school activity or sanctioned event arrests a student of the school, the officer shall notify the principal of the school or his or her designee of the arrest within twenty-four hours after the arrest.

(2) If a school resource officer or other law enforcement officer acting in his or her official capacity on school grounds, in a school vehicle, or at a school activity or sanctioned event issues a summons, ticket, or other notice requiring the appearance of a student of the school in court or at a police station for investigation relating to an offense allegedly committed on school grounds, in a school vehicle, or at a school activity or sanctioned event, the officer shall notify the principal of the school or his or her designee of the issuance of the summons, ticket, or other notice within ten days after the issuance of the summons, ticket, or other notice.

(3) A school resource officer shall be familiar with the provisions of the conduct and discipline code of the school to which he or she is assigned.

(4) Commencing August 1, 2013, and continuing through August 1, 2014, each law enforcement agency employing or contracting with any law enforcement officer who is acting or has acted in his or her official capacity on school grounds, in a school vehicle, or at a school activity or sanctioned event shall report to the division of criminal justice created in section 24-33.5-502, C.R.S., in aggregate form without personal identifying information, data about the cases handled by the agency on school grounds, in a school vehicle, or at a school activity or sanctioned event. Failure to submit a timely report to the division of criminal justice pursuant to this subsection (4) does not relieve a law enforcement agency of its responsibility to file the report required by this subsection (4). A law enforcement agency that has failed to file a timely report shall file all such reports with the division of criminal justice no later than August 15, 2015. Each such report must include, at a minimum, the following information:

(a) The number of students investigated by the officer for delinquent offenses, including the number of students investigated for each type of delinquent offense for which the officer investigated at least one student;

(b) The number of students arrested by the officer, including the offense for which each such arrest was made;

(c) The number of summonses or tickets issued by the officer to students; and

(d) The age, gender, school, and race or ethnicity of each student whom the officer arrested or to whom the officer issued a summons, ticket, or other notice requiring the appearance of the student in court or at a police station for investigation relating to an offense allegedly committed on school grounds, in a school vehicle, or at a school activity or sanctioned event.

(5)(a) On or before August 1, 2015, each law enforcement agency that is acting or has acted in its official capacity on school grounds, in a school vehicle, or at a school activity or sanctioned event shall report to the division of criminal justice, in the formats developed by the division in conjunction with local law enforcement agencies, the information required pursuant to paragraph (c) of this subsection (5) that is related to all student tickets, summons, or arrests that occurred during the 2014-15 academic year, excluding incidents that occurred during the summer of 2014, at a public elementary school, middle or junior high school, or high school; in a school vehicle; or at a school activity or sanctioned event.

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 19-1-303 (5), C.R.S., on or before August 1, 2016, and every August 1 thereafter, each law enforcement agency that is acting or has acted in its official capacity on school grounds, in a school vehicle, or at a school activity or sanctioned event shall report to the division of criminal justice, in formats developed by the division in conjunction with local law enforcement agencies, the information required pursuant to paragraph (c) of this subsection (5) that is related to all student tickets, summons, or arrests that occurred for the previous academic year, including incidents that occurred during the previous summer months, at a public elementary school, middle or junior high school, or high school; in a school vehicle; or at a school activity or sanctioned event.

(c) For each report required pursuant to paragraph (a) or (b) of this subsection (5), the law enforcement agency shall report:

(I) The student's full name;

(II) The student's date of birth;

(III) The student's race, ethnicity, and gender;

(IV) The name of the school where the incident occurred or the name of the school that operated the vehicle or held the activity or event;

(V) The date of the arrest or taking of a student into custody;

(VI) The date of the issuance of the summons or ticket;

(VII) The arrest or incident report number as recorded by the law enforcement agency;

(VIII) The single most serious offense for which a student is arrested, issued a summons, or issued a ticket using the national crime information center (NCIC) crime code;

(IX) The type of weapon involved, if any, for offenses classified as group A offenses under the national incident-based reporting system; and

(X) The law enforcement agency's originating reporting identifier.

(d) A law enforcement agency may report the information required pursuant to this subsection (5) on a monthly, quarterly, or annual basis. The law enforcement agency shall inform the division of criminal justice of the reporting schedule it will follow.

22-33-105. Suspension, expulsion, and denial of admission.

(5)(a) Whenever a petition filed in juvenile court alleges that a child at least twelve years of age but under eighteen years of age has committed an offense that would constitute unlawful sexual behavior, as defined in section 16-22-102 (9), C.R.S., or a crime of violence, as defined in section 18-1.3-406, C.R.S., if committed by an adult or whenever charges filed in district court allege that a child has committed such an offense, basic identification information concerning such child and the details of the alleged delinquent act or offense shall be provided immediately to the school district in which the child is enrolled in accordance with the provisions of section 19-1-304 (5), C.R.S. Upon receipt of such information, the board of education of the school district or its designee shall determine whether the student has exhibited behavior that is detrimental to the safety, welfare, and morals of the other students or of school personnel in the school and whether educating the student in the school may disrupt the learning environment in the school, provide a negative example for other students, or create a dangerous and unsafe environment for students, teachers, and other school personnel. The determination may be made in executive session to the extent allowed by section 24-6-402 (4)(h), C.R.S. If the board of education or its designee, in accordance with the provisions of this subsection (5), makes a determination that the student should not be educated in the school, it may proceed with suspension or expulsion in accordance with subsection (2) of this section and section 22-33-106. Alternatively, the board of education or its designee may determine that it will wait until the conclusion of the juvenile proceedings to consider the expulsion matter, in which case it shall be the responsibility of the district to provide the student with an appropriate alternate education program, including but not limited to an on-line program or on-line school authorized pursuant to article 30.7 of this title, or a home-based education program during the period pending the resolution of the juvenile proceedings. Information made available to the school district and not otherwise available to the public pursuant to the provisions of section 19-1-304, C.R.S., shall remain confidential.

22-33-106.5. Information concerning offenses committed by students.

(1) Upon adjudication or conviction of a person under the age of eighteen years for an offense specified in section 22-33-106 (1)(d), the adjudicating juvenile court or the convicting district court, whichever is applicable, shall notify the school district in which the person is enrolled that the person is subject to mandatory expulsion based on the adjudication or conviction.

(2) Upon adjudication or conviction of a person under the age of eighteen years for an offense that constitutes a crime of violence, as defined in section 18-1.3-406, C.R.S., or for an offense involving controlled substances, or, for a person under eighteen years of age but at least twelve years of age, for an offense that would constitute unlawful sexual behavior, as defined in section 16-22-102 (9), C.R.S., if committed by an adult the adjudicating or convicting court shall notify the school district in which the person is enrolled of the person's adjudication or conviction.

22-33-107.5. Notice of failure to attend.

(1) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (2) of this section, a school district shall notify the appropriate court or parole board if a student fails to attend all or any portion of a school day where the school district has received notice from the court or parole board:

(a) Pursuant to section 19-2-508 (3)(a)(X) that the student is required to attend school as a condition of release pending an adjudicatory trial;

(b) Pursuant to section 17-22.5-404, 18-1.3-204 (2.3), 19-2-907 (4), 19-2-925 (9), or 19-2-1002 (1) or (3) that the student is required to attend school as a condition of or in connection with any sentence imposed by the court, including a condition of probation or parole; or

(c) Pursuant to section 13-10-113 (8), C.R.S., that the student is required to attend school as a condition of or in connection with any sentence imposed by a municipal court.

(2) If the school district has notice that a student who is required to attend school as a condition of release or as a condition of or in connection with any sentence imposed by a court, including a condition of probation or parole, has enrolled in a nonpublic home-based educational program, pursuant to section 22-33-104.5, or in an independent or parochial school, the school district shall notify the appropriate court or parole board and shall no longer be required to notify the court or parole board, pursuant to subsection (1) of this section, if the student fails to attend.

22-33-108. Judicial proceedings.

(2) If a child or his parent desires court review of an order of the board of education issued pursuant to this article, he shall notify the board in writing within five days after receiving official notification of the board's action. The board of education shall thereupon issue, or cause to be issued, to the child or his parent a statement of the reasons for the board's action. Within ten days thereafter the child or his parents may file with the court a petition requesting that the order of the board of education be set aside, to which shall be appended the statement of the board of education. No docket or other fees shall be collected by the court in connection with this proceeding.

(3) After the petition is filed, the court shall notify the board and shall hold a hearing on the matter. The court shall conduct judicial review of a hearing decision pursuant to rule 106 (a)(4) of the Colorado rules of civil procedure and rule 3.8 of the Colorado rules of juvenile procedure.

(4) It is the duty of the attorney for the school district, an employee authorized by the local board of education pursuant to section 13-1-127 (7), C.R.S., to represent the school district in truancy proceedings, the attendance officer designated by the local board of education, or the local board of education to initiate, when appropriate, proceedings for the enforcement of the compulsory attendance provisions of this article upon request by the attendance officer of the district or of the state.

(5)(a) It is the intent of the general assembly that, in enforcing the compulsory school attendance requirements of this article, a school district shall employ best practices and research-based strategies to minimize the need for court action and the risk that a court will issue detention orders against a child or parent.

(b) A school district shall initiate court proceedings to compel a child and the child's parent to comply with the attendance requirements specified in this article but only as a last-resort approach to address the child's truancy and only if a child continues to be habitually truant after school or school district personnel have created and implemented a plan pursuant to section 22-33-107 (3) to improve the child's school attendance.

(c) Before initiating court proceedings to compel compliance with the attendance requirements specified in this article, the school district shall give the child and the child's parent written notice that the school district will initiate proceedings if the child does not comply with the attendance requirements of this article. The school district may combine the notice and summons. If combined, the petition must state the date on which the school district will initiate proceedings, which date must not be less than five days after the date of the notice and summons. The notice must state the provisions of this article with which compliance is required and must state that the school district will not initiate proceedings if the child complies with the identified provisions before the proceedings are filed.

(d) If a school district initiates court proceedings pursuant to this subsection (5), the school district, at a minimum, must submit to the court evidence of:

(I) The child's attendance record prior to and after the point at which the child was identified as habitually truant;

(II) Whether the child was identified as chronically absent and, if so, the strategies the school district used to improve the child's attendance;

(III) The interventions and strategies used to improve the child's attendance before school or school district personnel created the child's plan described in section 22-33-107 (3); and

(IV) The child's plan and the efforts of the child, the child's parent, and school or school district personnel to implement the plan.

(6) The court before which a proceeding to compel attendance is brought may issue, in its discretion, an order against the child or the child's parent or both compelling the child to attend school as provided by this article or compelling the parent to take reasonable steps to assure the child's attendance. The order must require the child and parent to cooperate with the school district in complying with the plan created for the child pursuant to section 22-33-107 (3).

(7)(a) If the child or youth does not c

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