Students who receive University of Colorado Police Department (抖阴旅行射PD) tickets for lower-level offenses or first-time infractions have traditionally faced a potentially long road to get past their mistakes. But that will soon change thanks to a new program the department will roll out in May.听
A 抖阴旅行射 Police Department vehicle on 抖阴旅行射 Boulder's campus. (Photo by Patrick Campbell/University of Colorado)
Compared to a traditional criminal summons鈥撯�搘hich could tie up students in both the city of Boulder Municipal Court and the 抖阴旅行射 Boulder student conduct process鈥撯�搉ew administrative citations will make it easier for students to make amends, save them a trip to court and save them money.
鈥淟ate in 2019, we started looking into this type of program, similar to what CSU has been doing for many years,鈥� said 抖阴旅行射 Boulder Chief of Police Doreen Jokerst. 鈥淲e鈥檙e looking forward to incorporating this into our approach to public safety.鈥澨�
抖阴旅行射PD officers and residential service officials (RSOs) will be able to hand out the administrative citations starting May 17. Infractions that could receive the new administrative citation can include minor in possession of drugs or alcohol, fake identification, unlawful conduct on public property, consumption of alcohol in public and other nonviolent or first-time offenses. Some minor traffic offenses will be included as well.
After receiving an administrative citation, students will be referred to the 抖阴旅行射 Boulder Office of Student Conduct & Conflict Resolution (SCCR) for completion of a student conduct process, including possible participation in restorative justice programs or substance abuse programs. Students who complete the 抖阴旅行射 Boulder student conduct process have a good chance of staying out of trouble in the future, according to Holly Nelson, director of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution.听
鈥淥ur data shows that students who participate in a student conduct educational program or restorative justice program have lower recidivism rates than traditional disciplinary programs,鈥� Nelson said.
The new citation program also has community law enforcement support.
鈥淭his program is a positive, progressive move for 抖阴旅行射 Boulder,鈥� said Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty. 鈥淚t will lessen the criminal justice footprint in the lives of students while still allowing 抖阴旅行射PD to keep this beautiful campus safe for everyone. I applaud Chief Jokerst and 抖阴旅行射 Boulder for this innovative and important reform.鈥澨�
A key component, Jokerst said, is the citations will allow the department to utilize a less punitive and more educational approach to address first-time offenses of minor crimes that occur on campus.
鈥淚 am a firm believer that education is a strong deterrent to repeated criminal offenses, and this program does that without involving the court system,鈥� Jokerst said.
Instead of a potentially hefty fine, the fines for the new administrative citations will be half of what a criminal citation would carry.
The money from the fines will go toward supporting campus safety.
鈥湺兑趼眯猩銹D will not keep any of the funds that are collected,鈥� Jokerst said. 鈥淭hat money will be dedicated to programs and initiatives which will make our campus community a safer place to study, work and live.鈥�
The fines will be directed toward听restorative justice and transformative justice programs through SCCR, health and wellness initiatives, as well as bicycle and pedestrian safety around campus.
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