The Justice Engaged Student Hotline

Generation Schools Network (GSN), a Colorado based nonprofit that increases access to equitable learning experiences by partnering with a diverse network of education stakeholders to ensure all students have the opportunity to thrive, announced today that stakeholders and supporters of Justice Engaged Students - Colorado (JES-CO) are preparing to launch the new Justice Engaged Student Hotline in early 2025 following the passage of Colorado HB 24-1216. The Justice Engaged Student Bill of Rights, HB 24-1216, was formally signed into law by Colorado Gov. Jared Polis on May 31, 2024. It helps to eliminate barriers to educational attainment for justice-engaged youth in Colorado by clearing up confusion between the education and justice systems and connecting students and families to resources. Recent studies show court-involved students as having a 20% chance of graduating from high school.

Justice engaged students face a number of barriers to continuing their education after becoming involved with the justice system even if they aren’t locked up or their time in custody is brief. Credit transfer, re-enrollment in school, social stigma, and disruptions to their graduation plan are just a few challenges they often face alone. The hotline is designed to provide a safe and confidential space for justice-engaged students, families and caregivers, justice system personnel, community-based organizations and education personnel in Colorado to seek information, support, and resources to remove barriers to educational attainment.

The idea for a hotline came from dozens of community meetings across the state where stakeholders shared how difficult it was to find the information, guidance and support they needed. This hotline is being created as a direct response to the expressed needs of students and families who came up with this idea. 

The hotline is open to all Coloradans with a K-12 grade justice-engaged youth or student in their life. The bill defines a justice-engaged student as a student who is involved in the criminal justice system in any capacity, including, but not limited to, adjudication, probation, ticketing, detention, diversion, commitment, or community supervision.

Beginning in early 2025, an intake form will be made available at https://www.justiceengagedstudents.org/. A hotline number will also be published at the earliest possible date.

Yes, all calls to the hotline are strictly confidential. Your personal information will not ever be shared without your consent.

Hotline staff can support you in navigating the transition by: 

• Listening and providing emotional support and guidance around next steps in your situation

• Referring you to pro bono legal support to help you understand your case (charges, possible timeline, what may happen at court dates, etc.) so you can advocate for yourself and a pathway to complete your education

• Matching you with community-based partners and programs to meet pressing needs of the youth and family (housing, health, substance misuse, tutoring, positive peer group, mental health, etc). 

The hotline is free of charge and JES-CO is seeking sponsors to help underwrite hotline costs. 

The hotline will be staffed by a team of trained and background-checked volunteers, known as Hotline Heroes. These volunteers are passionate about supporting justice-engaged youth in Colorado and are committed to providing a safe and confidential space for help.

Generation Schools Network is currently managing the hotline. However, the Colorado Department of Education is in the process of selecting a vendor to take over the hotline on or before September 1, 2026. Once a vendor is selected, the department will contract with them to maintain a statewide hotline for justice-engaged students, families and caregivers, justice system personnel, and education personnel.

The entity contracted with CDE to operate the hotline is required to submit regular reports detailing call statistics, types of support provided, and geographic distribution of calls. These reports will help identify service gaps and improve support systems.

Colorado is the first state in the country to pass legislation establishing a statewide hotline specifically for justice-engaged students. This groundbreaking initiative demonstrates a commitment to supporting young people who have experienced involvement in the justice system and provide them with access to vital resources and support toward creating a long and productive life. 

Hotline Heroes include organizations and individuals who support the Justice Engaged Student Hotline, either through volunteering,  financial sponsorship, or committing to advocate for the hotline through their social and professional networks.

VOLUNTEER: https://www.generationschools.org/volunteer

DONATE: https://www.coloradogives.org/story/Hotline-Heroes-A-Call-For-Justice

SHARE: Generation Schools Network (LinkedIn and Facebook)

To learn more, contact Dr. Jose Silva at jsilva@generationschools.org.