Promoting Non-Violence in Our Community

Each year, the International Day of Non-Violence is observed on October 2, the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, leader of the Indian independence movement and pioneer of the philosophy and strategy of non-violence.

The City of Boulder addresses and prevents acts of violence and hate crimes in alignment with the District Attorney’s Office and Boulder County Sheriff Office. In observation of International Day of Non-Violence, we have compiled resources that address violence in Boulder and our work to promote non-violence in our community.

While we strive to create a welcoming and inclusive community for all, we acknowledge that discrimination and violence in our community are a reality. Below are city resources that address violence in Boulder.

Community Mediation and Resolution Center

The city’s Community Mediation and Resolution Center provides mediation, restorative justice, meeting facilitation, landlord-tenant information and more.

• Mediation - Mediation is a process where mediators help people in conflict understand each other's needs and work toward a mutual solution. Assistance is offered in the following areas: landlord-tenant, roommates, neighbors, seniors, parents and teens, community groups (including non-profits and HOAs) and other types of community conflict. CMRC will determine if your situation is appropriate for mediation. Participation is voluntary. Learn more on the city’s website.

• Restorative Justice - Restorative Justice (RJ) approaches crime as a violation of people, interpersonal relationships and the community rather than simply as a violation of the law. The RJ process brings together the victim, the offender and members of the community in a safe, neutral space with facilitators to guide conversation. Participants explore the impacts of the crime, helping the responsible party understand the consequences of their actions and ways to repair the harm they caused. Learn more on the city’s website.

• Volunteer Opportunities - Whether you are a seasoned mediator or restorative justice facilitator looking for ways to serve the community, or you have just completed your mediation or RJ training and would like to gain case experience, we invite you to submit a volunteer application. You may also call us at 303-441-4364 for more information or send your resume to mediation@bouldercolorado.gov.

Bias Motivated Crimes

As part of the City of Boulder’s efforts to ensure that Boulder is a welcoming and inclusive community, the city updated the Boulder Revised Code language pertaining to bias motivated crime sentence enhancements.

The amendments to the Boulder Revised Code include the expansion of offenses that are subject to an enhanced sentence, adding offenses related to religious expression into the category of bias motivated crimes, adding clarifying language to authorize an enhanced sentence even if the offender had mixed motives when the crime was committed, and cross-referencing the definitions of gender, gender identity and gender expression with Boulder’s Human Rights Ordinance.

Since 1968, federal law makes it a crime to use, or threaten to use, force to willfully interfere with any person because of race, color, religion, or national origin. The law also protects a person that is participating in a federally protected activity, such as public education, employment, jury service, travel, or the enjoyment of public accommodations, or helping another person to do so.

Learn more and find information about filing a report on the city’s website.

Bias and Hate Hotline: 303-441-1595

The Boulder District Attorney’s Office has created a hotline designed for members of our community to report hate or bias-motivated crimes.

This hotline is for non-emergencies only. Call 911 for crimes in progress.

Definition of a Bias-Motivated Crime: A person commits a bias-motivated crime if, with the intent to intimidate or harass another person because of that person’s actual or perceived race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, physical or mental disability, or sexual orientation, he or she:

• Knowingly causes bodily injury to another person; or

• By words or conduct, knowingly places another person in fear of imminent lawless action directed at that person or that person’s property and such words or conduct are likely to produce bodily injury to that person or damage to that person’s property; or

• Knowingly causes damage to or destruction of the property of another person.

View the DA’s flyer on the county’s website.

Safehouse Progressive Alliance for Nonviolence (SPAN)

SPAN is a human rights organization committed to ending violence against adults, youth and children through support, advocacy, education and community organizing.

SPAN provides shelter and advocacy for victims of interpersonal violence at a time when our community is experiencing higher domestic violence rates than national and state averages.

• SPAN’S 24-Hour Crisis Line: 303-444-2424