Targeted Violence

Subtopics

Physical Security

School Security Personnel

Violence Prevention

Prevent and mitigate targeted violence incidents.

Targeted violence refers to violence that is premeditated and directed at specific individuals, groups, or locations. Perpetrators select their targets to achieve specific motives, such as the resolution of a grievance or to make a political or ideological statement. Targeted violence is distinct from violence that is impulsive, random, or spontaneous and is often distinguished by pre-attack behaviors that suggest violence as a possible outcome. Those behaviors, if identified and addressed, can reduce the likelihood of a targeted violence incident at your school. One practice for preventing targeted school violence is through the use of a multidisciplinary school threat assessment team, comprised of school staff tasked to identify, assess, and intervene with students who may pose a risk of harm to themselves or others.

Schools can work to prepare for potential acts of targeted violence by improving their campuses’ physical security and involving school personnel who are trained to prevent, recognize, and respond to threats of violence, as well as implementing other violence prevention strategies. Physical security measures can mitigate threats and reduce the amount of harm inflicted if incidents occur. Conducting a site assessment and developing building security plans can identify existing vulnerabilities and enhance overall school security.

Some school districts may decide to use school-based law enforcement, including school resource officers (SROs) and other security personnel, to help prevent or mitigate school violence. Implementing an SRO program is a local decision that should be made with significant community input, and school districts should consider the range of options available that best fit their needs. SROs have a unique role in school safety, with a primary focus on prevention and proactive engagement in their community of students and school staff.

Local communities should consider funding, training, and proper staffing as part of the SRO program evaluation. Schools with SRO programs are encouraged to implement high-quality practices in the training and use of SROs in schools. Ensuring SROs carry out their responsibilities in a fair and impartial manner helps students feel safe at school.

Featured Resources

These resources are a starting point for learning more about targeted violence. Use these resources to help prevent and mitigate targeted violence incidents.

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 targeted violence-related issue briefs below.

Webpage

Preventing and Responding to Bias and Hate Incidents in K-12 Educational Settings: A Toolkit for School and Community Leaders

Department of Justice

This toolkit provides school and community leaders with information and strategies to create safe and inclusive learning environments free of harassment and discrimination. It includes best practices to facilitate difficult conversations and equip schools to prepare for, mitigate, and respond to bias and hate incidents.

Guidance

K-12 School Security Guide Product Suite

Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, 2022

The suite is a set of products designed to inform safety and physical security planning for K-12 schools. It includes the K-12 School Security Guide (3rd ed.), which provides a comprehensive doctrine and systems-based methodology for vulnerability assessment, planning, and implementation of layered physical security elements, and the School Security Assessment Tool, a web-based assessment that walks users through a tailorable vulnerability analysis and provides results and recommendations that can be integrated into a school’s existing safety and security plans.

Tool

Active Shooter Exercise Starter Kits

Department of Homeland Security

These self-conducted tabletop exercises, tailored for the academic community, include a set of scalable tools aimed to test existing emergency plans, protocols, and procedures, while also strengthening preparedness, response, and recovery capabilities in the event of an active shooter situation.

Webpage

Bomb Threat Resources

Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency

This webpage provides information on products, training offerings, and resources that help with preparation and response options in the event of a bomb threat.

Filter Resources

All Targeted Violence Resources

Access additional resources below to learn more about targeted violence and related best practices. Use the filters to sort resources based on subtopic and/or preparedness action.

Fact Sheet

Talking to Children about the Shooting

Department of Health and Human Services, 2014

This tip sheet describes ways to talk to children about mass violence events that involve a shooting. It gives tips about how to start the conversation, common reactions children may have, and how to seek help if needed.

Guidance

Violence Prevention: Resources for Action

Department of Health and Human Services

These technical packages were developed to help states and communities take advantage of the best available evidence to prevent or reduce violence. Each package is intended as a resource to guide and inform prevention decision-making and include topics such as preventing Adverse Child Experiences, child abuse and neglect, suicide, youth violence, sexual violence, and intimate partner violence. The corresponding webpage also provides information on implementing the technical packages, postcards, and FAQs.

Video

Averting Targeted School Violence Video

Department of Homeland Security, April 2023

This video highlights the findings and implications of the U.S. Secret Service National Threat Assessment Center's research on school violence prevention based upon the study, "Averting Targeted School Violence: A U.S. Secret Service Analysis of Plots Against Schools," which examined 67 disrupted plots against K-12 schools. It describes the thinking and behavior of the plotters, as well as their attack plans, how the plots were discovered, and how this information can be utilized to prevent violence in schools.