In 2023, nearly 6,500 Colorado youth were newly justice-engaged, having been arrested for the first time (Colorado Crime Statistics, 2024) with less than a 20% chance of earning a diploma once introduced to the system (Gertseva & McCurley, 2018). In the state as a whole, more than 22,000 youth are considered justice-engaged (Colorado Crime Statistics, 2024). Justice-engaged students (JES) are defined as system connected and may be awaiting trial, locked-up, in diversion, on probation, parole, paying fines, completing community service, or in a restorative justice process.

For these students, significant confusion exists between the education and justice systems in regard to how, where and when they can keep moving toward educational attainment.  Justice-Engaged Students – Colorado (JESCO) has built community coalition around a Justice-engaged Student Bill of Rights, which passed as HB24-1216 in 2024. The legislation clarifies a myriad of processes along with implementation of a statewide hotline offering resources to ensure JES students, families, education and justice personnel have the information and networks needed to overcome the systemic and personal barriers to educational attainment. The hotline will have no registration or attendance fees.

Through this grant, CU faculty in education and law will support hotline development, resourcing and short and long term evaluation.

• Hotline

  Additional Info

  Generation Schools Network, with support of CU Boulder faculty and students, will create a hotline for justice-involved students. We expect the hotline to be launched in January 2025.

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  Location 1

  Dates

  Ongoing

  Public or Private

  Public Program (open to the public)

  Program Fee

  No charge to attend/participate in activity or program

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  Location 2

  Dates

  Ongoing

  Public or Private

  Public Program (open to the public)

  Program Fee

  No charge to attend/participate in activity or program