Assessing Threats in School
Threat Assessment in Schools -
A Guide from the Secret Service
Threat Assessment Checklist for School Professionals
by Tom Letson MA LPC NCC
Threat Assessment Training for NJ School Professionals
by Tom Letson MA LPC NCC
Threat Assessment Checklist for School Staff
Threat Assessment Checklist: The purpose of this form is to comment on the risk factors for potential violence by students who made a threat verbally, in writing or in a drawing. Protective action will need to be taken when risk factors are numerous and/or severe. If the risk factors are numerous, insure that the appropriate administrator is notified immediately. **Please note: Consultation with your local Police Department may be necessary if the items regarding weapons are checked.
The Threat Assessment Team/Counselor has assessed the above student as having the following risk factors for potential violence (check all that apply and comment where indicated)
___
has access to the following weapons:___ appears to have a fascination with weapons
___ is knowledgeable and/or has used weapons
___ has made recent threats to act out violently
___ has provided evidence of making plans to act out violently:
___ has a history of bringing a weapon to school
___ identifies contingencies that would provoke an act
___ is brooding over an event where he or she was unfairly treated or humiliated:
___ has experienced the following recent life stressor or event:
___ has conveyed a sense of recently being treated unfairly
___ expresses unreasonable feelings of being persecuted by other students or staff
___ appears to be a loner and reveals having no close friends
___ has a history of being bullied or teased dating back to elementary years
___ does not show concern for legal and personal consequences
___ has threatening and/or loud speech
___ is observed during the interview as maintaining prolonged stares
___ is observed as having signs of agitation during the interview: pacing, clenching fists and teeth
___ reveals feelings of depression, hopelessness, or despair
___ appears to lack appropriate empathy for the victim (s)
___ refuses to communicate with staff
Based on the above risk factors as assessed on this date, the Threat Assessment Team has concluded that the above student poses the following risk for potential violence:
____High Risk for potential violence ___Low Risk for potential violence
Summary/Recommendations/Action Plan:
________________________________ __________
Staff Signature Date
________________________________ __________
Staff Signature Date
________________________________ __________
Conducting Threat Assessments for School Professionals
Tom Letson, MA LPC SAC, is a NJ Dept. of Education Professional Development Provider. Tom will come to your school, sit down with your staff, and assist them in implementing a threat assessment protocol. This staff training will involve the following learning objectives:
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Threats typically dealt with in the course of a school year |
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Levels of threat seriousness according to the FBI |
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Gathering information regarding potential threat |
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Conducting the student interview |
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Testing for delusional/paranoid thinking |
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Ruling out access to weapons |
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When to contact the police department |
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Parent Interviews |
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Assessing Student Drawings |
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Assessing the common "I'll kill you" statement. |
This is a valuable training for school staff from a professional who works in a school on a daily basis. Please email or call Tom for more information: contact Tom Letson
Tom Letson MA LPC Private Practice
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