Guide for Preventing and Responding to School Violence
The purpose of this document is to present different strategies and approaches for members of school communities to consider when creating safer learning environments. No two schools are exactly alike, so it is impossible to establish one plan that will work well in all schools. Violence prevention programs work best when they incorporate multiple strategies and address the full range of possible acts of violence within schools. In order for any set of policies to work, it must be established and implemented with the full participation and support of school board members, administrators, parents, students, community members, emergency response personnel, and law enforcement. Without such shared responsibility, the chance of safe school policies being successfully implemented and accepted is undermined. |
Did you know?
Perpetrators of School Violence... were current students. 95% had behavior causing others concern prior to attack. 93% planned out the attack in advance. 93% acquired the weapon from home or from a relative. 68% had a known history of weapons use. 63% acted during the school day. 59% exhibited interest in violent movies. 27% and violent themes in writings, essays, or journals. 37% ...were motivated to commit violence by: being bullied, persecuted, or threatened by others. 75% desire for revenge. 61% attempt to solve a problem. 34% suicide or desperation. 27% desire for attention or recognition. 24% multiple motives. 54% Ref: FBI The School Shooter: |
The Psychosocial Evaluation and Threat Risk Assessment
It is important to understand social, emotional, and ecological factors that may have contributed to the threatening behavior. Use of the PETRA or other measure to help quantify these relationships is an integral part of threat assessment, particularly with regard to developing effective interventions focused on the likely issues that led, or contributed to, the threatening. The PETRA computer scoring template is available here.
It is important to understand social, emotional, and ecological factors that may have contributed to the threatening behavior. Use of the PETRA or other measure to help quantify these relationships is an integral part of threat assessment, particularly with regard to developing effective interventions focused on the likely issues that led, or contributed to, the threatening. The PETRA computer scoring template is available here.
Adolescent & Child Urgent Threat Evaluation
Use of the ACUTE is highly recomended for a more formalized threat risk assessment. It examines the specific characteristics of the threatening behvior as well as any associated predisposing and/or precipitating characteristics. It provides a research-based estimate of the associated level of risk.
Virginia Youth Violence Project
Effective methods for youth violence prevention and school safety.
National Association of School Psychologists
Site provides information on threat assessment, which uses a set of strategies or pathways to determine the credibility and seriousness of a threat and the likelihood that it will be carried out. Effective threat assessment must be conducted by a team of trained professionals as part of a comprehensive school safety program which considers the full range of relevant factors and provides appropriate interventions for the potential offender(s).
UCLA Center for Mental Health in Schools
Site provides a very compressive resource regarding all topics associated with mental heath in the schools This particular link leads to the Preventing School Violence index page of the site.
NIH/Medline Plus: Comprehensive Information on Bullying
Peer victimization, also known as bullying, refers to repeated, unprovoked, harmful physical or psychological actions by one or more individuals against another. Bullying includes hitting, kicking, pushing, intimidating, name calling, teasing, taunting, and making threats. Bullying may also include exclusion and rejection of an individual from a group. Most of the school shooters identified in the literature were victims of some form of bullying. This link provides access to a comprehensive resource on Bullying prevention.
Keep Schools Safe
School safety and security resource for students, parents, teachers, and school administrators.
Gangs and School Violece
The first defense in protecting our kids against gang influence, is a good offense. Just as we warn our kids against the dangers of smoking, alcohol and drugs before we discover evidence of such activity, we must take similar precautions and talk to our children about the dangers of gang involvement. That is, making our children aware that gang association of any kind is harmful and will not be tolerated.
Parenting with Dignity
It is very important that parents are involved in the threat-assessment process. Sometimes parents need guidance and support. There are many resources to point them to, including this on, 'Parenting with Dignity'. Featured on ABC's 20/20, it teaches parents how to instill a sense of responsible decision making in their kids. Discover five simple rules for parents, and learn how "The ideas in our kids' heads rule their world."
Center for the Prevention of School Violence
Effective methods for youth violence prevention and school safety.
National Association of School Psychologists
Site provides information on threat assessment, which uses a set of strategies or pathways to determine the credibility and seriousness of a threat and the likelihood that it will be carried out. Effective threat assessment must be conducted by a team of trained professionals as part of a comprehensive school safety program which considers the full range of relevant factors and provides appropriate interventions for the potential offender(s).
UCLA Center for Mental Health in Schools
Site provides a very compressive resource regarding all topics associated with mental heath in the schools This particular link leads to the Preventing School Violence index page of the site.
NIH/Medline Plus: Comprehensive Information on Bullying
Peer victimization, also known as bullying, refers to repeated, unprovoked, harmful physical or psychological actions by one or more individuals against another. Bullying includes hitting, kicking, pushing, intimidating, name calling, teasing, taunting, and making threats. Bullying may also include exclusion and rejection of an individual from a group. Most of the school shooters identified in the literature were victims of some form of bullying. This link provides access to a comprehensive resource on Bullying prevention.
Keep Schools Safe
School safety and security resource for students, parents, teachers, and school administrators.
Gangs and School Violece
The first defense in protecting our kids against gang influence, is a good offense. Just as we warn our kids against the dangers of smoking, alcohol and drugs before we discover evidence of such activity, we must take similar precautions and talk to our children about the dangers of gang involvement. That is, making our children aware that gang association of any kind is harmful and will not be tolerated.
Parenting with Dignity
It is very important that parents are involved in the threat-assessment process. Sometimes parents need guidance and support. There are many resources to point them to, including this on, 'Parenting with Dignity'. Featured on ABC's 20/20, it teaches parents how to instill a sense of responsible decision making in their kids. Discover five simple rules for parents, and learn how "The ideas in our kids' heads rule their world."
Center for the Prevention of School Violence
References
Copeland, R. (2005). Adolescent and child urgent threat evaluation. Psychological Assessment Resources, LLC, Lutz, FL
O’Toole, M. (2000). The school shooter: A threat assessment perspective. Washington, DC: FBI
Schneller, J. (2005). Psychosocial Evaluation and Threat Risk Assessment. Psychological Assessment Resources, Inc. Lutz. FL
Copeland, R. (2005). Adolescent and child urgent threat evaluation. Psychological Assessment Resources, LLC, Lutz, FL
O’Toole, M. (2000). The school shooter: A threat assessment perspective. Washington, DC: FBI
Schneller, J. (2005). Psychosocial Evaluation and Threat Risk Assessment. Psychological Assessment Resources, Inc. Lutz. FL