FCPS THREAT ASSESSMENT AND RESPONSE PROTOCOL
Adapted from the Guidelines for Responding to Student Threats of Violence, Virginia Youth Violence Project (Cornell & Sheras, 2006)
IDENTIFY AND EVALUATE THREAT
A threat is an expression of intent to harm someone that may be spoken, written, or gestured. An expression of intent to harm someone is considered
a threat regardless of whether it is communicated to an actual or prospective victim and regardless of whether the actual or prospective victim is
aware thereof, existing in any fashion, whether orally, visually, in writing, or electronically. This protocol does NOT address threats to damage
property, threats made by non-students, fights with no threat, or language such as slurs, insults, or verbal abuse that does not constitute a threat.
WHEN IN DOUBT, treat the expression as a threat. See Regulation 2111 for more specific guidance.
Student threats shall be reported to the school administrator (principal, assistant principal, or principal designee) if they cannot be easily and readily
resolved by other staff. Criteria for reporting threats should include age of the child, and the context of the threat or remark.
The administrator makes a preliminary determination of the seriousness of the threat. If the threat has not been resolved, and the administrator
determines it is potentially serious, then the Threat Assessment Documentation and Threat Assessment and Response Summary Sheet should be
completed.
The student, recipients of threat, and other witnesses shall be interviewed to obtain a specific account of threat in context using the Threat Assessment
Documentation form.
Student Interview
• Do you know why I wanted to talk with you?
• What happened when you were [place of incident]?
• What exactly did you say? And what exactly did you do?
• What did you mean when you said or did that?
• How do you think he/she feels about what you said or did?
• What was the reason you said or did that?
• What are you going to do now that you have made this threat?
Witness Interview
• What exactly happened when you were [place of incident]?
• What exactly did [student] say or do?
• What do you think he/she meant when saying that?
• How do you feel about what he/she said or did?
• Why did he/she say or do that?
DETERMINE WHETHER THREAT IS CLEARLY TRANSIENT OR SUBSTANTIVE
Substantive Threat
A substantive threat meets one or more of the following:
• Specific, plausible details such as a specific victim, time, place, and method
• Threat has been repeated over time or related to multiple persons
• Threat is reported as a plan or planning has taken place
• Recruitment of accomplices or invitation for an audience
• Physical evidence of intent to carry out threat (e.g., lists, drawings, written plan)
Factors to consider in which substantive threats are more likely:
Age of student Credibility of account Documented history of aggression
DETERMINE IF SUBSTANTIVE THREAT IS SERIOUS OR VERY SERIOUS
Transient Threat
A transient threat meets one or more of the
following:
• Non-genuine expression
• Non-sustainable intent to harm
• Temporary feelings of anger
• Tactic in argument
• Intended as joke or figure of speech
• Resolved on scene or office (time-limited)
• Conflict is resolved and ends with apology,
retraction, or clarification
• WHEN IN DOUBT, consider threat as
substantive and assess further
Serious
A threat to assault
Very Serious
Threat to kill, rape, or inflict severe injury or involves
the use of weapons
RESPOND TO TRANSIENT THREAT RESPOND TO SERIOUS THREAT RESPOND TO VERY SERIOUS THREAT
Contact student’s parents if necessary
Notify intended victim’s parents if
necessary
See that threat is resolved through
explanation, apology or making amends
Consult with safety and security
specialist/SRO if necessary
Refer for conflict mediation or counseling,
to resolve problem if appropriate
Follow discipline procedures as per
Regulation 2601
Develop Behavior Intervention Plan
/behavior contract as appropriate
Maintain threat assessment documentation
in the cumulative file of the student’s
scholastic record, if completed, as
appropriate
Mobilize threat assessment team
members as needed
Notify student’s parents
Protect and notify intended victim and
parents of victim
Caution the student about the
consequences of carrying out the threat
Provide direct supervision of student
until parents assume control
Consult with safety and security
specialist/SRO
Refer for conflict resolution or
counseling
Follow discipline procedures as per
Regulation 2601
Develop Behavior Intervention
Plan/behavior contract
Maintain threat assessment
documentation in the cumulative file of
the student’s scholastic record
Mobilize threat assessment team
Notify student’s parents
Protect and notify intended victim and
parents of victim
Notify cluster assistant superintendent or
designee
Caution the student about the
consequences of carrying out the threat
Provide direct supervision of student until
parents assume control
Consult with safety and security
specialist/police
Follow discipline procedures as per
Regulation 2601
Conduct mental health assessment
Develop Behavior Intervention
Plan/behavior contract
Maintain threat assessment documentation
in the cumulative file of the student’s
scholastic record
5
Adapted from Guidelines for Responding to Student Threats of Violence by Dewey Cornell and Peter Sheras, (Sopris West, 2006)
* Prior to releasing these documents to parents/guardians, all identifying information relating to other students shall be redacted