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Threat Assessment and Reporting Threat Assessment and Reporting

Identify and address safety concerns to reduce the threat of violence.

Identifying, reporting, and addressing safety concerns can help reduce the threat of targeted violence and enhance student safety. Schools can consider establishing a centralized reporting system that is continually monitored and allows for anonymous reporting to help students and other members of the school community provide information on concerns for wellness or safety. Creating a school environment that engages and empowers students to report concerns can also help enhance safety and security.

Schools may also consider the use of well-trained and multidisciplinary school threat assessment teams. These teams should include certified mental health professionals and the approach should include providing the supports and interventions students need when they need them.

Featured Resources

These resources are a starting point for learning more about threat assessment and reporting. Use these resources to help implement a threat assessment and reporting system. 

Additionally, SchoolSafety.gov regularly publishes issue briefs that provide a high-level overview of a specific school safety topic as well as a sampling of aligned strategies, resources, programs, and tools. Download and explore threat assessment and reporting-related issue briefs below.

Guidance
Threat Assessment and Reporting
School Threat Assessment Toolkit

Department of Justice, 2024

This toolkit is designed to aid schools in employing behavioral threat assessment and management as part of a comprehensive violence prevention strategy. The toolkit offers guidance on training, implementation, and assessment of school threat assessment teams. It aims to ensure fidelity to student rights while providing practical tools like documents, forms, videos, and additional resources to support schools’ efforts.
Guidance
Threat Assessment and Reporting
Enhancing School Safety Using a Threat Assessment Model

Department of Homeland Security, July 2018

This guide provides actionable steps that schools can take to develop comprehensive targeted violence prevention plans and create processes and procedures for conducting threat assessments.

Filter Resources

All Threat Assessment and Reporting Resources

Access additional resources below to learn more about threat assessment and reporting and related best practices. Use the filters to sort resources based on preparedness action.

Podcast
Targeted Violence
The Science of School Safety

Department of Justice, 2022

This podcast episode discusses bullying, school climate, mental health, and other important school safety issues. The episode also covers the National Institute of Justice's research portfolio on school safety.
Report
Targeted Violence
Averted School Violence Database: 2021 Analysis Update

Department of Justice, 2021

This downloadable report leverages data from additional averted school violence cases since the 2019 Averted School Violence Database report to conduct similar analyses; compares the findings from the new cases to the initial 51 averted cases; and provides overarching lessons learned and recommendations that can be leveraged by school administrators, law enforcement, and communities to enhance school safety and security.
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