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Campus Threat Assessment

Threat Assessment in Virginia

Over the past decade, the Commonwealth of Virginia has led the nation in efforts to implement threat assessment procedures in institutions of higher education and pre-K-12 public schools.  In 2008, the Virginia General Assembly passed legislation requiring public institutions of higher education to establish threat assessment teams with the goal of preventing violence on campus by assessing behaviors and intervening with individuals who may pose a threat to campus safety.  In 2013, the Virginia General Assembly enacted legislation requiring all public school divisions to establish and operate threat assessment teams in support of their schools - making Virginia the first state in the country to require such action.  Most recently in 2023, the General Assembly added training mandates for institutions of higher education threat assessment team members.  

With the requirement of threat assessment mandates, the General Assembly also directed the Virginia Center for School and Campus Safety (VCSCS) to study the application and implementation of threat assessment, develop model policies, procedures, and resources on threat assessment, and provide training to support institutions of higher education and pre-K-12 public schools.  To satisfy these requirements, the VCSCS worked hand in hand with research partners, service providers, and subject matter experts to provide resources for schools, campuses, and law enforcement.  

Frequently Asked Questions

 

 

VCSCS Threat Assessment Resources

Cover of and link to Final Report on Threat Assessment Teams in Virginia Institutions of Higher Education: Survey of Practices (2013-2014)Cover of and link to Information Sharing Guide for Institutions of Higher Education Cover of and link to Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management in Virginia Institutions of Higher Education: Model Policies, Procedures, and GuidelinesA COMMUNITY APPROACH TO BEHAVIORAL THREAT ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT IN VIRGINIA: A Practitioner’s Guide

Report on Best Practices, Model Policies and Procedures, and Legislative Recommendations for Campus Threat Assessment Teams

Report on Threat Assessment Teams in Virginia Institutions of Higher Education

Information Sharing Guide for Institutions of Higher Education

Summary of 2016 changes to the threat assessment Code

Technical Assistance for Threat Assessment and Management Teams for Virginia Schools and Institutions of Higher Education

Other Threat Assessment Resources and Articles of Interest

United States Secret Service National Threat Assessment Center

National Threat Evaluation and Reporting Quarterly Bulletin - Quarter 1 Fiscal Year 2022 (US Department of Homeland Security Office of Intelligence and Analysis)

Active Shooter Incidents in the United States in 2020 (US Department of Justice Federal Bureau of Investigation)

Campus Attacks: Targeted Violence Affecting Institutions of Higher Education

Mass Attacks in Public Spaces - 2019 (National Threat Assessment Center)

Protecting America's Schools: A U.S. Secret Service Analysis of Targeted School Violence (2019 -  National Threat Assessment Center)

Making Prevention a Reality: Identifying, Assessing, and Managing the Threat of Targeted Attacks (National Center for Analysis of Violent Crime)

Balancing Safety and Support on Campus: A Guide for Campus Teams (Higher Education Mental Health Alliance)

Higher Education Threat Assessment Contact

Marc Dawkins, Virginia Center for School and Campus Safety Manager
804.380.9709 
Email Marc