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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.

Webpage
Threat Assessment and Reporting
School Violence: Prevention Tools and Resources

Department of Health and Human Services

This webpage provides various tools developed by the Center for Disease Control to help the general public understand and effectively prevent school violence.

Assessment
Threat Assessment and Reporting
Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) School Assessment

Department of Health and Human Services, May 2017

This tool assesses the use of CPTED principles in three areas of schools: grounds, buildings, and interiors. It includes the principles of natural surveillance, access management, territoriality, physical maintenance, and order maintenance.

Report
Threat Assessment and Reporting
National Summits on Preventing Multiple Casualty Violence Reports

Department of Homeland Security

These reports summarize the outcomes of summits that bring together experts from a variety of disciplines, including law enforcement, academic education, social sciences, private security, and emergency management to develop cross-cutting prevention strategies and a framework for a prevention toolkit adaptable to individual communities.

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