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.
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.
Yes, each year VCSCS offers several training sessions on threat assessment. The training features an overview of threat assessment, details of forming and operating a threat assessment team, the identification of threats, and legal issues, among other topics. Visit the VCSCS Training Page to find trainings near you or host a session in your locality by completing the HOST A TRAINING Form.
Higher Education
Virginia Code states that each public institution of higher educations must establish a threat assessment team that includes representatives from law enforcement, mental health professions, student affairs, human resources, and if available higher education counsel. The purpose of the team is to implement assessment, intervention, and action policies such as recognition of threatening behaviors and threat reporting mechanisms. The teams are also required to establish relationships with local and state law enforcement and mental health agencies to assist in assessment and intervention.
A threat assessment is a fact-based process emphasizing an appraisal of observed (or reasonably observable) behaviors to identify potentially dangerous or violent situations, to investigate/assess them, and to manage/address them.
The goal of threat assessment is to determine if the subject is on a pathway to violence. The overall goal of threat assessment is to ensure the safety of all involved.
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)
Marc Dawkins, Campus Safety Manager804.380.9709 Email Marc
