Threat Assessment
Stafford County Public Schools
Threat Assessment Team
Members Central Office
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1st Sgt. Nancy Morin
Greg Martin
Sue Clark
Melinda Cruz
Dan Hornick
J.R. Raybold
Rick Fitzgerald
Lisa Besceglia
Department of Safety, Security and
Risk Management
Responsibilities and Requirements
• Gather yearly statistical data
• Work with law enforcement on any
imminent threats
• Work with DCJS for further
guidance and information
concerning Threat Assessment
Teams (TAT) and requirements
Critical Periods
• Are predictable time frames for increased threatmaking behavior.
– Two weeks following a major traumatic incident.
– Mid November - December break, other school breaks.
– Month leading up to the anniversary of a violent crisis or
traumatic event (ex. Columbine – April 20; Virginia Tech –
April 16; World Trade Center – September 11)
Teachers and School Staff
• Students will often first report
concerns to individual staff
members with whom they feel
comfortable.
• Staff are often the first to observe
the dynamics of threat-making
behavior.
Divisional Policy/Protocol
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PURPOSE: To authorize establishment of threat assessment teams
The superintendent will establish a threat assessment team for each
school. Teams may serve one or more schools as determined by the
superintendent. The teams will assess and intervene with students whose
behavior may pose a threat to the safety of school staff or students consistent
with the model policies developed by the Virginia Center for School Safety
including procedures for referrals to community services boards or health care
providers for evaluation or treatment when appropriate.
Each team will include persons with expertise in counseling, instruction, school
administration and law enforcement. Each team will
Provide guidance to students, faculty and staff regarding recognition of
threatening or aberrant behavior that may represent a threat to the community,
school or self;
Identify members of the school community to whom threatening behavior should
be reported; and
Implement policies adopted by the School Board.
A principal who has received information that a juvenile is a suspect in or has
been charged with certain violations of law pursuant to Va. Code § 16.1-301 may
provide such information to a threat assessment team. No member of a threat
assessment team may disclose any such information or use such information for
any purpose other than evaluating threats to students and school personnel.
Divisional Policy/Protocol cont’d.
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Upon preliminary determination that a student poses a threat of violence or
physical harm to self or others, a threat assessment team shall immediately
report its determination to the superintendent or superintendent’s designee. The
superintendent or superintendent’s designee shall immediately attempt to notify
the student’s parent or legal guardian. Nothing in this policy precludes school
division personnel from acting immediately to address an imminent threat.
Each threat assessment team will report quantitative data on its activities
according to guidance developed by the Department of Criminal Justice
Services.
The superintendent may establish a committee to oversee the threat
assessment teams or may assign the oversight of the teams to an existing
committee. If such a committee is established, it will include individuals with
expertise in human resources, education, school administration, mental health
and law enforcement.
Adopted: 06/25/13
Readopted: 12/12/13
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Legal Refs.: Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended, §§ 16.1-301, 22.1-79.4
VIRGINIA CODE § 22.1-79.4.
“Threat assessment teams and oversight committees”
Virginia Code
• VIRGINIA CODE § 22.1-79.4.
• “Threat assessment teams and
oversight committees”
• Local School Board Divisions will
establish threat assessment teams and
prescribe the responsibilities of those
teams as well as related referral and
reporting requirements.
VA Code § 22.1-79.4
• A. Each local school board shall adopt policies
for the establishment of threat assessment
teams, including the assessment of and
intervention with students whose behavior may
pose a threat to the safety of school staff or
students consistent with the model policies
developed by the Virginia Center for School
and Campus Safety in accordance with § 9.1184. Such policies shall include procedures for
referrals to community services boards or
health care providers for evaluation or
treatment, when appropriate.
VA Code § 22.1-79.4 Cont’d
• B. The superintendent of each school division
may establish a committee charged with
oversight of the threat assessment teams
operating within the division, which may be an
existing committee established by the division.
The committee shall include individuals with
expertise in human resources, education,
school administration, mental health, and law
enforcement.
VA Code § 22.1-79.4 Cont’d
• C. Each division superintendent shall establish, for each
school, a threat assessment team that shall include
persons with expertise in counseling, instruction, school
administration, and law enforcement. Threat
assessment teams may be established to serve one or
more schools as determined by the division
superintendent. Each team shall (i) provide guidance to
students, faculty, and staff regarding recognition of
threatening or aberrant behavior that may represent a
threat to the community, school, or self; (ii) identify
members of the school community to whom threatening
behavior should be reported; and (iii) implement policies
adopted by the local school board pursuant to
subsection A.
VA Code § 22.1-79.4 Cont’d
• D. Upon a preliminary determination that a student poses a
threat of violence or physical harm to self or others, a threat
assessment team shall immediately report its determination to
the division superintendent or his designee. The division
superintendent or his designee shall immediately attempt to
notify the student's parent or legal guardian. Nothing in this
subsection shall preclude school division personnel from
acting immediately to address an imminent threat.
• E. Each threat assessment team established pursuant to this
section shall report quantitative data on its activities
according to guidance developed by the Department of
Criminal Justice Services.
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(2013, c. 710; 2014, cc. 7, 158.)
What is a threat?
• An expression of intent to do harm
or act out violently against
someone or something.
• Can be verbal, written, drawn, sent
electronically, or made by gesture.
• Must be taken seriously,
investigated and responded to.
Threat Assessment
• Is an assessment to determine the
likelihood that a threat will be carried
out.
• Is done to help students.
• Is done to help keep schools safe.
What Staff Should Watch For
• Changes in
grades/behavior
• Not wanting to come to
school
• Changers in family
structure
• Lack of significant
adult(s) in his/her life
• Lack of Adult
Supervision
• Bullying/Victimization
• Obsession with
violence/weapons
• Violent themes in
art/writing
• Mental Health concerns
• Drug/Alcohol use or
abuse
• Withdrawn Behavior
Two important hypotheses in the
assessment of threat-making
behavior
• Threat-making behavior is most
frequently a cry for help.
• Students who make threats may
alternate between thoughts of
hurting others and of hurting
themselves.
Duty to Report
• Staff must report all threats to their
administrator/designee
• Students, staff, parents and community
member have a responsibility and an
obligation to report all threats and threatrelated behaviors.
• Threat making is a safety issue for everyone.
We are all responsible to help make schools
safe and caring places.
The Threat Assessment/Crisis
Management Team
• Each school has a multidisciplinary
Threat Assessment/Crisis Management
Team.
• The team may include the Principal,
Vice Principal, School Social Worker,
School Psychologist, School
Counsellor, Resource Teacher and a
Police Officer.
Purpose of Threat Assessment
• To promote the emotional and physical safety
of everyone and to prevent harm to all,
including the threat maker.
• To understand the context/details of the threat.
• To ensure that the response is appropriate
without over or under reacting.
• To develop a plan of support/intervention for
the student making threats.
• To develop strategies to maintain the student
in the school with school-based interventions
and community-based services as needed.
Threat Assessment Process
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Threat-making behaviors are reported using specific and
descriptive language to the Principal or designate.
The Principal initiates the team response. In the case of an
immediate threat, 911 is called and the school may be locked
down.
DATA COLLECTION IS KEY. Interviews may be held with
students, the threat maker and staff to prevent the threat from
happening and to promote early intervention.
Longer term planning occurs to support the threat maker and
the target of the threats.
Plans will be shared with parents, staff and students when
appropriate.
Please remember
• We need to take all threats seriously.
• We all have a duty to report threats.
• The majority of threats are not acted upon.
• Responses to threats vary depending on the
circumstances of the threat.
• We need to support students who have been
threatened.
• Threats are often a cry for help. We need to help
students who are making threats.
Threat Assessment
• Management/School Threat
Assessment Teams
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Monitor
Refer
Reassess risk level
Categorize cases as active or inactive
Maintain periodic contact with victim