This document provides a threat assessment methodology and intervention tool for identifying students at risk for carrying out acts of targeted school violence. This joint report compiled on behalf of the United States Secret Service and the United States Department of Justice is devoted to school violence threat assessment tools and methodology. The report was prepared as part of the Safe School Initiative. The findings of the Initiative indicate that targeted school violence incidents are unlikely to be impulsive, are likely to have observable pre-planning activities, and are likely to be known to other students prior to the event. The goal of the document was to provide an outline of a process for identifying, assessing, and managing students who may be at risk for perpetrating targeted acts of school violence. This report modifies the Initiative's prior threat assessment document and is designed to be used in conjunction with "The Final Report and Finding of the Safe School Initiative: Implications for the Prevention of School Attacks in the United States." Topics covered include: the importance of positive school climate in school violence prevention, a threat assessment program implementation guide, information about conducting a threat assessment, and threat management techniques. The threat management decision making tool developed by the Initiative is also provided.

This document takes the findings from the Safe School Initiative study and sets forth a process for identifying, assessing, and managing students who may pose a threat of targeted violence in schools. This process - known as a threat assessment - was first pioneered by the U.S. Secret Service as a mechanism for investigating threats against the President of the United States and other protected officials. This approach was developed based upon findings from an earlier Secret Service study on assassinations and attacks of public officials and public figures.

Since June 1999, the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Secret Service have been working as a team to try to better understand--and ultimately help prevent--school shootings in America. The authors believe the results of this effort have given schools and communities real cause for hope. Through the "Safe School Initiative," staff from the U.S. Department of Education's Safe and Drug-Free Schools Program and the U.S. Secret Service's National Threat Assessment Center have found that some school attacks may be preventable. In particular, the "Safe School Initiative" findings indicate that incidents of targeted violence in school were rarely impulsive; that the students who perpetrated these attacks usually planned out the attack in advance--with planning behavior that was oftentimes observable; and that, prior to most attacks, other children knew that the attack was to occur. This document takes these findings one step further by setting forth a process for identifying, assessing, and managing students who may pose a threat of targeted violence in schools. This process--known as threat assessment--was first pioneered by the U.S. Secret Service as a mechanism for investigating threats against the president of the United States and other protected officials. This "Guide" represents a modification of the Secret Service threat assessment process, based upon findings from the "Safe School Initiative." It is intended for use by school personnel, law enforcement officials, and others with protective responsibilities in the nation's schools. This "Guide" includes suggestions for developing a threat assessment team within a school or school district, steps to take when a threat or other information of concern comes to light, consideration about when to involve law enforcement personnel, issues of information sharing, and ideas for creating safe school climates. An appendix provides annotated resources. (Contains 21 footnotes.) [This guide is an update of the 2002 report, "Threat Assessment in Schools: A Guide to Managing Threatening Situations and to Creating Safe School Climates" (ED466013).].

This publication focuses on the use of the threat assessment process pioneered by the Secret Service as one component of the Department of Education's efforts to help schools across the nation reduce school violence and create safe climates.

Revised edition of International handbook of threat assessment, [2014]

The Handbook of School Violence and School Safety: International Research and Practice has become the premier resource for educational and mental health professionals and policymakers seeking to implement effective prevention and intervention programs that reduce school violence and promote safe and effective schools. It covers the full range of school violence and safety topics from harassment and bullying to promoting safe, secure, and peaceful schools. It also examines existing school safety programs and includes the multi-disciplinary research and theories that guide them. Examinations of current issues and projections of future research and practice are embedded within each chapter. This volume maps the boundaries of this rapidly growing and multidisciplinary field of study. Key features include... Comprehensive Coverage – The chapters are divided into three parts: Foundations; Assessment and Measurement; Prevention and Intervention Programs. Together they provide a comprehensive review of what is known about the types, causes, and effects of school violence and the most effective intervention programs that have been developed to prevent violence and promote safe and thriving school climates. Evidence-based Practice – Avoiding a one-size-fits-all approach to prevention and intervention, the focus throughout is on the application of evidence-based practice to address factors most commonly associated with school violence and safety. Implications for Practice – Each chapter bridges the research-to-practice gap, with a section delineating implications for practice of the foregoing research. Chapter Structure – To ensure continuity and coherence across the book, each chapter begins with a brief abstract and ends with a table showing the implications for practice. International Focus – Acknowledging the fact that school violence and safety is a global concern, this edition has increased its focus on insights learned from cross-national research and practice outside the USA. Expertise – The editors and authors are experienced researchers, teachers, practitioners, and leaders in the school violence field, their expertise includes their breadth and depth of knowledge and experience, bridging research, policy, and practice and representing a variety of international organizations studying school violence around the world.