Embedded Advocates

The University of Colorado Boulder Police Department (CUPD) partners with campus experts to provide compassionate, person-centered support alongside law enforcement through its embedded advocates program. By integrating mental health clinicians and a victim advocate directly into police response and follow-up, CUPD works to ensure individuals impacted by crisis or crime receive timely support, clear information about their options, and connections to additional campus resources—while prioritizing care, dignity and safety at every step. 

a mental health clinician writes on a clipboard while speaking to a client

Mental Health Clinicians

CUPD has a team of mental health clinicians that are available to assist officers on calls when responding to persons in crisis.  This model ensures that immediate assistance and support can be provided on scene.  The mental health clinicians are part of a collaboration between CUPD and CU Counseling and Psychiatric Services.   

Victim Advocate

colorful summer flowers bloom outside of C4C on CU Boulder campus

CUPD has an Embedded CU Police Department Victim Advocate. This position is a collaboration between the CU Office of Victim Assistance (OVA) and CUPD that started in June 2021. The Embedded Victim Advocate can co-respond with officers, support detectives doing investigations, follow up on cases CUPD is handling and outreaches on police reports to support victims of crime as they interact with CU police department. The goal of this position is to support victims, help them know their rights and options, receive follow-up with the criminal process and to be a bridge to other resources. The embedded police advocate is not a confidential resource and will refer victims/survivors to OVA for confidential support. 

CU Boulder also provides services through the Office of Victim Assistance (OVA). This office provides free and confidential support, consultation, advocacy and short-term trauma counseling to CU Boulder students, graduate students, staff and faculty who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic, disturbing or life-disrupting event, including but not limited to crime. This office can also offer support for those who are helping a friend, partner, family member or colleague through a traumatic experience. You can learn more about the CU Police Department Victim Advocate by reading this article. 

Find out more about Crime Victim Rights & Information. 

Other Ways Our Agency and University Departments Can Assist

Intimidation, harassment, and stalking are all crimes. If you are being intimidated, harassed, or stalked, or you feel you are in danger at any time, call 911 immediately. Protective court orders may be available through the Boulder County Courts at 303-441-3775. 

If any of your property was taken as evidence or recovered during an investigation, and is not contraband, CUPD is required to return the property within 5 working days of a victim’s request as long as it is no longer needed for evidentiary purposes. Please call the Property and Evidence Unit to arrange the release of your property at 303-492-5116. 

To get a copy of your crime, accident, or incident report, call the Records Unit at 303-492-5115, come to the University of Colorado Boulder Police Department, or request a records release. Allow at least 24 hours for reports to be forwarded to the Records Unit. In some cases, reports may require up to 72 hours to be released. There may be a fee for these copies. 

If you are a victim of a crime with constitutional rights, you have the right to a free copy of the initial crime report. 

Occasionally, state laws restrict release of certain types of crime reports. Call the Records Unit to find out details about the release of your crime report. 

Traumatic events happen every day in all communities and CU’s community is not immune. The Office of Victim Assistance strives to mitigate the impact of traumatic experiences by decreasing barriers and empowering victims/survivors in making informed decisions by providing free confidential trauma informed services. For assistance, call OVA at 303-492-8855 or visit their website. 

If a suspect has been arrested in the City of Boulder or on the University of Colorado Boulder campus, you should register with VINE (Victim Information and Notification Everyday). 

Colorado VINE is a notification system that sends automatic updates to victims and witnesses anytime an offender’s custody status changes. 

To register, you will need the offender’s name, and your phone number or e-mail address to receive VINE notifications. Registering a phone number to receive notifications will require a 4-digit PIN number. Register by calling (888) 263-8463 or by going to the Colorado VINE website. 

Victims who feel they have not received the rights afforded by law should contact their assigned victim advocate for assistance. If the issue cannot be resolved locally, the victim may contact the Victim Rights Compliance Program for information, assistance, or to file a formal complaint.  

Colorado Division of Criminal Justice 
303-239-4442