Identifying Potential Threats

Violence is aggressive behavior that is intended to, or results in, significant or lethal injury.

Is the communication an expression that suggests details of planning or ongoing consideration of an attack? Communications may include verbal expressions, artwork, email, internet messaging, texting, written language exercises, or any other medium of communication. Communication can also be made by indirect, veiled, or casual references to possible harmful events, warnings of potential harm, or references to previously occurring violent events such as school or community shootings.

Is there an ongoing consideration or focus on a particular person or a group of people?

While there can certainly be many motives for acting out violently or aggressively, the most common is the need to establish or re-establish control. It is often disguised as revenge or vendetta for lost love or humiliation and the desire to prove bravery after making a threat or taking a dare. Pay close attention to motive themes of loss, being wronged, or excessive anger.

Indications may include a plan, acquiring weapons, rehearsing or practicing the attack, scheduling the attack or other preparations.

Communication that threatens an attack is only an expression and does not suggest a “posed threat” unless there are behaviors supporting the intent to carry out the attack. Many threats are not stated with clearly expressed language but are indicated by veiled threats and/or behavior that relates to a possible attack.

Attack related behavior includes, but is not limited to, the following:

• A plan to carry out a targeted act of aggression against a specific individual or group. A plan would have a sequence of actions necessary for its success—the more plausible the plan, the higher the risk.
   
• Acquisition of a weapon, the attempted acquisition of a weapon, or research about how to acquire a weapon. If the threat is the use of physical force to the point of serious or lethal injury, then the physical force is the weapon.
   
• The rehearsal of the event or a similar event. Rehearsal is like simulation or practice. Rehearsal can be indicated through art, fantasy games, writing, or film projects. It can also be indicated by the use of movies, internet sites, or video games that have themes and sequences of violence that can serve as a kind of simulation or practice. However, it must be noted that the use of such games or films as entertainment does not lead or cause students to act out violently.  Their use is only attack-related behavior when it serves as rehearsal or practice.
   
• Scheduling an attack. Scheduling the act can be indicated through vague communication or actually noted in clear detail. Sometimes the schedule is flexible, awaiting a triggering event (teasing, rejection, loss) that further justifies the violence and locks it in as the only solution.

If threats are made but not accompanied by attack-related behaviors, motives or a specific target(s) consistent with that threat, then the risk decreases.

Are peers aware of or concerned about a potential attack? Are peers encouraging the attack?

For example, a person who is low on coping strategies or alternatives may consider violence to be the only option available to solve problems.

Is there a history of suicidal ideation, gestures, references or intent? A desire to die, be killed by another or commit suicide, combined with a threat to harm others, increases the overall risk. This is especially true if the suicidal behavior is one feature of a plan to kill others and carry out revenge or justice. If there is a risk of suicide, seek out advice and assessment from a doctor, mental health professional, or contact local available resources.

Reckless and vindictive behavior, family dysfunction, academic failure and social crisis are all risk factors that can aggravate an already at-risk situation.