Investigative themes

Rather than focusing solely on a student’s personality traits or school performance, we can learn much more about a student’s risk for violence by working through the threat assessment process, which is designed to gather the most relevant information about the student’s communications and behaviors, the negative or stressful events the student has experienced, and the resources the student possesses to overcome those setbacks and challenges.

U.S. Secret Service research identified the following themes to explore when conducting a threat assessment investigation: • The student’s motives and goals • Concerning, unusual, or threatening communications • Inappropriate interest in weapons, school shooters, mass attacks, or other types of violence

Access to weapons • Stressful events, such as setbacks, challenges, or losses • Impact of emotional and developmental issues • Evidence of desperation, hopelessness, or suicidal thoughts and gestures • Whether the student views violence as an option to solve problems • Whether others are concerned about the student’s statements or behaviors • Capacity to carry out an attack • Evidence of planning for an attack • Consistency between the student’s statements and actions • Protective factors such as positive or prosocial influences and events

Teams should organize their information gathering around several themes or areas pertaining to the student’s actions, circumstances, and any other relevant threat assessment factors.

Addressing each theme is necessary for a complete assessment and may uncover other avenues of inquiry to help determine whether the student is at risk for engaging in violence.

Using the themes to identify where the student might be struggling will help the Team identify the most appropriate resources.

Keep in mind, there is no need to wait until the Team has completed all interviews or addressed every theme before taking action. As soon as an area for intervention is identified, suitable management strategies should be enacted.

They may reveal information relevant to the other investigative themes by making reference to feelings of hopelessness or suicide, a fascination with violence, interest in weapons, or other inappropriate interests.