Threat Assessment and Management Teams

Based on the study of school shootings commissioned by the US Department of Education and the US Secret Service, Threat Assessment Teams were initiated in Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) in 1996. The Threat Assessment Teams are comprised of an administrator, school mental health professional, a School Police officer, with consultation from the legal department. Since that date, LAUSD Crisis Counseling and Intervention Services conducts trainings for LAUSD personnel to guide educators through the threat assessment process when confronted by a student or adult who poses a threat to the safety of other students and staff.

For details and resources relating to LAUSD Crisis Counseling and Intervention Services relating to Threat Assessment and Management Teams, please click here.

Below, you will find articles and resources developed by LAUSD TSA Center staff to address issues of school violence and threat assessment.

by clicking on the indicated links, you will be able to get further information.

School Violence: Assessing Students' Mental Health

By Katherine Tweed on FoxNews.com

[excerpt from article] "...Dr. Marleen Wong points out that one of the most important tasks is to recognize threats. "One of the things that we've learned from this, all threats should be taken seriously," Wong said. "They need to be seen, they need to be referred to mental health services. Homicide and suicide can be two sides of the same coin. Many of the surviving school shooters have saved the last bullet for themselves but were too fearful to carry out the suicide."

Wong pointed out that it is even more difficult to evaluate a potential shooter on a college campus, because of the lack of structure. Attendance is not always taken in class, and it is easy for people to go unnoticed on sprawling campuses.

"The need for mental health services on college campuses is even greater, students have high expectations for themselves. It is a time where they should be sorting out their lives, what their strengths are, what their weaknesses are, but some people feel they are disappointing themselves or their families," Wong said."

Click here to view the article.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,266440,00.html

An Approach to Prevent Targeted Violence

Threat Assessment is authored by the Secret Service Agents who also developed the Safe School Initiative, this summary details the components of the Threat Assessment Process that can be used for threatening adults in communities - not necessarily associated with schools.

To download article, click on article below.

Threat Assessment-An approach to Prevent Targeted Violence

The School Shooter: A Threat Assessment Perspective

In contrast to the Secret Service Approach, this FBI document thoroughly reviews common characteristics in the school shooter's personality, family, peer and school relationship.

To download article, click below.

The School Shooter: A Threat Assessment Perspective