C.R.S. Section 22-32-144
Restorative justice practices

  • legislative declaration

(1)

The general assembly hereby finds that:

(a)

Conflicts and offenses arising during the school day interrupt learning, threaten school safety, and often lead to suspensions, expulsions, and an increase in the likelihood of a student dropping out of school;

(b)

Students who drop out of high school face diminished job opportunities, lower lifetime earnings, and increased unemployment and more often require public assistance. They are more likely to participate in criminal activity, resulting in higher incarceration rates, and they face much greater challenges to becoming productive, contributing members of their communities.

(c)

School conflicts can result in offenses that violate school rules and local laws and damage relationships among members of the school and surrounding community;

(d)

Restorative justice, which requires the offender to accept responsibility and accountability for his or her actions, teaches conflict resolution, repairs the harm from the offense, reduces classroom disruptions, suspensions, expulsions, and consequent dropouts, promotes school safety, and enables victims, offenders, and community members to rebuild the community and restore relationships; and

(e)

The general assembly has a vital interest in reducing classroom disruptions, suspensions, expulsions, and dropout rates and in assisting victims, reducing referrals to the justice system, and building safer, more cohesive school communities to promote learning.

(2)

Intentionally left blank —Ed.

(a)

Therefore, the general assembly supports and encourages the use of restorative justice as a school’s first consideration to remediate offenses such as interpersonal conflicts, bullying, verbal and physical conflicts, theft, damage to property, class disruption, harassment and internet harassment, and attendance issues.

(b)

The general assembly encourages each school district to implement training and education in the principles and practices of restorative justice to ensure that capable personnel and resources are available to successfully facilitate all steps of the restorative justice process.

(3)

For purposes of this section, “restorative justice” means practices that emphasize repairing the harm to the victim and the school community caused by a student’s misconduct. Restorative justice practices may include victim-initiated victim-offender conferences attended voluntarily by the victim, a victim advocate, the offender, school members, and supporters of the victim and the offender, which program provides an opportunity for the offender to accept responsibility for the harm caused to those affected by the act and to participate in setting consequences to repair the harm. Consequences recommended by the participants may include, but need not be limited to, apologies, community service, restitution, restoration, and counseling. The selected consequences shall be incorporated into an agreement that sets time limits for completion of the consequences and is signed by all participants.

(4)

Each school district is encouraged to develop and utilize restorative justice practices that are part of the disciplinary program of each school in the district.

Source: Section 22-32-144 — Restorative justice practices - legislative declaration, https://leg.­colorado.­gov/sites/default/files/images/olls/crs2023-title-22.­pdf (accessed Oct. 20, 2023).

22‑32‑101
Corporate status of school districts 22‑32‑102
Corporate status - when questioned 22‑32‑103
Board of education - general powers and duties 22‑32‑104
Organization of board of education - definition 22‑32‑105
Duties - president and vice-president 22‑32‑106
Duties - secretary 22‑32‑107
Duties - treasurer 22‑32‑108
Meetings of the board of education - legislative intent 22‑32‑108.5
Board of education - distribution of additional mill levy revenue - definitions - legislative declaration 22‑32‑109
Board of education - specific duties - definitions 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 22‑32‑109.2
Board of education - specific duties - adoption of policy 22‑32‑109.3
Board of education - specific duties - student records 22‑32‑109.4
Colorado School Collective Bargaining Agreement Sunshine Act - board of education - specific duties 22‑32‑109.5
Board of education - specific duties - testing requirements - developmental education placement or assessment tests - intervention plans 22‑32‑109.6
Board of education - specific duties - class size reduction plans - alternative student achievement plans - definitions 22‑32‑109.7
Board of education - specific duties - employment of personnel - definitions 22‑32‑109.8
Applicants selected for nonlicensed positions - submittal of form and fingerprints - prohibition against employing persons - department database 22‑32‑109.9
Licensed personnel - submittal of fingerprints 22‑32‑110
Board of education - specific powers - definitions 22‑32‑110.6
Board of education - specific powers - “No Child Left Behind Act of 2001” 22‑32‑110.7
Board of education - specific powers - drug testing 22‑32‑111
Power of eminent domain 22‑32‑112
Oil and gas leases 22‑32‑113
Transportation of pupils - when 22‑32‑114
Transportation by parents of own children 22‑32‑115
Tuition for resident school-age children 22‑32‑116
Exclusion of nonresidents - exception 22‑32‑116.5
Extracurricular and interscholastic activities - definitions 22‑32‑117
Miscellaneous fees 22‑32‑118
Summer schools - continuation, evening, and community education programs 22‑32‑118.5
Intervention strategies - students at risk of dropping out - legislative declaration 22‑32‑118.6
Intervention strategies - improving mathematics outcomes - definitions 22‑32‑119
Kindergartens - definition 22‑32‑119.5
Full-day kindergarten - phase-in plan - report - legislative declaration 22‑32‑120
Food services - facilities - school food authorities - rules 22‑32‑121
Facsimile signature 22‑32‑122
Contract services, equipment, and supplies 22‑32‑123
Penalty 22‑32‑124
Building codes - zoning - planning - fees - rules - definitions 22‑32‑124.3
Energy-efficient design of school buildings and structures required - definitions 22‑32‑126
Principals - employment and authority 22‑32‑127
Leases or installment purchases for periods exceeding one year 22‑32‑128
Use of school vehicles by residents of district 22‑32‑131
Voter approval of repayment of loans for capital improvements made to a growth district 22‑32‑132
Diplomas - veterans 22‑32‑133
American sign language 22‑32‑133.5
Computer science courses - legislative declaration 22‑32‑134.5
Healthy beverages policy required 22‑32‑135
Financial literacy curriculum - definition 22‑32‑136
Children’s nutrition - healthful alternatives - information - facilities - local wellness policy - competitive foods 22‑32‑136.3
Children’s nutrition - no trans fats in school foods - definitions - rules 22‑32‑136.5
Children’s wellness - physical activity requirement - legislative declaration 22‑32‑137
Community service and service-learning 22‑32‑138
Out-of-home placement students - school stability, transfer, and enrollment procedures - absences - exemptions - provision of academic supports - report - definitions 22‑32‑138.5
Educational stability grant program - application - grants - fund created - rules - report - definition 22‑32‑139
Food allergies and anaphylaxis policy required 22‑32‑140
Standardized immunization policy required 22‑32‑141
Student awaiting trial as adult - educational services - definitions 22‑32‑142
Parent engagement - policy - communications - incentives 22‑32‑143
Local fiscal impact summaries 22‑32‑144
Restorative justice practices - legislative declaration 22‑32‑145
Native American language and culture instruction - general credit 22‑32‑146
School use of on-site peace officers as school resource officers 22‑32‑147
Use of restraints on students - certain restraints prohibited - reports and review process - rules - definitions 22‑32‑148
Food donations to nonprofit organizations encouraged 22‑32‑149
District scholarship programs - authorized 22‑32‑150
Contracting for facial recognition service by schools prohibited - definition - repeal 22‑32‑151
Testing for the presence of lead in drinking water in eligible schools - compliance with public health requirements - repeal
Green check means up to date. Up to date

Current through Fall 2024

§ 22-32-144’s source at colorado​.gov