NIteshift

NiteShift is a citywide initiative led by ONE Denver to combat a rise in drink tampering and sexual violence in our city’s nightlife establishments. NiteShift is developed in collaboration with the Mayor’s Office, Denver Police Department, & DDPHE.

KEY OBJECTIVES:

- Stamp out sexual assault and drink spiking in Denver bars & venues.
- Establish a citywide standard for patron safety at night.
- Reduce 911 call volume; need for emergency & law enforcement responses.
- Decrease the economic, social, and public health impact sex crimes have on communities.
- Every bar & venue in Denver participating by 2028.

RAPE AFFECTS EVERYONE:

In addition to the moral obligation that cities have to keep its residents safe from sexual assault and rape, its social and economic impact cannot be understated. The reality is that the devastation an individual experiences has rippling effects on us all.

According to the CDC, rape costs individuals an average of $122,451 over a lifetime. This includes loss of work productivity (52% of total), medical costs (39%), criminal justice activities (8%), and other costs, such as property loss (1%).

There were 215 reported rape cases in Denver as of November 2024, which equals $54 million in lost economic productivity in 2024 alone.

This figure doesn’t include non-reported cases or the economic impact of other sex crimes which the CDC hasn’t quantified.

With 63% of rapes and sexual assaults going unreported, the true number is exponentially higher.

The CDC estimates taxpayers cover about 1/3rd of these costs.

PROVEN STRATEGIES:

While ONE Denver recognizes that it cannot eliminate these crimes, even a minor reduction can greatly improve Denver’s population.

To reduce the impact of sex crimes on Denver’s night, ONE Denver has consulted with and researched other programs that tackle this, such as Tenessee’s Safe Bar program, Austin’s Sip Safely, and California’s AB 1013. These strategies include:

- Supplying bars and venues with spiking test kits and drink covers for patrons.  
- Training nightlife staff how to spot and respond to drink tampering and sexual violence.
- Helping venues establish clear protocol around handling related emergencies. 
- Displaying signage in venues promoting consent culture and a zero-tolerance policy for crime. 
- Providing a platform for victims to report incidents anonymously and confidentially.