The Threat Assessment Process 

This page addresses the basic framework needed to conduct a threat assessment utilizing PETRA Procedures to determine the degree of risk and appropriate response based on individual risk factors and psychosocial functioning to help prevent repeat threatening behavior.

Threat Risk

Assessment.

	Overview: Threat assessment is a useful tool in minimizing the frequency of school violence. The technique involves a five step process beginning with a receipt of a threat by administrative personnel, who then begin to gather relevant information regarding the incident. Level two is marked by a formal threat assessment by personnel specifically trained for this task. The third step involves conducting a psychosocial evaluation. The fourth step involves implementing protective interventions which may include discipline as well as therapeutic efforts. The final step is to document all actions taken and schedule follow up to check on the fidelity and efficacy of the interventions that were put in place (more about the threat assessment process).
	Threat Risk Assessment. Threats may be (a) direct or indirect, (b) specific and detailed or general, (c) well thought out or impulsive, and/or (d) veiled, conditional, or implied. Inherent in all threats is an express intent to harm. An instrument such as the Adolescent and Child Urgent Threat Evaluation, or ACUTE is very helpful in structuring your threat assessment efforts. (more).
	Psychosocial Evaluation. Many of the personality characteristics identified in the literature regarding perpetrators of school violence reflect significant maladaptive emotional and/or behavioral characteristics that cluster in the domains of depression, aggression, alienation, and egocentrism, the ecology of the home and school, and resilience characteristics such as coping and stress. Use of a psychosocial evaluation, such as the PETRA or other psychosocial measure is necessary to accurately identify problematic functioning in these domains.  (more)
	Threat Response. A threat of violence should be considered a cry for help. It is important to address the underlying problem that lead to the threat of violence to keep it from escalating due to a lack of appropriate intervention. Effective administrative response must balance the need for appropriate discipline and the implementation of individualized interventions addressing the issues that lead to the threat, a student safety plan is good place to start (more).
	Follow up & Monitoring.  Thorough threat assessment procedures will yield important information regarding the nature of the threat, level of risk, and underlying social emotional difficulties. It is important to use this information to guide immediate action and implement targeted interventions in a timely to ensure the present and future safety of everyone on the school campus.  A PETRA (psychosocial evaluation & threat assessment) report template in MS Word form is provided at the right. Comments & suggestions to improve this document are welcomed.

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