The U.S. Secret Service National Threat Assessment Center (NTAC) distributed nearly 40,000 print copies of critical research for preventing targeted school violence to public school districts and private schools in order to inform schools on threat assessment programs. As many schools return to in-person learning, the Secret Service’s research highlights the need for proactive support for students at school, built around safe and positive school climates. The Secret Service’s effort to share this critical research is a part of the Department of Homeland Security’s focus on preventing targeted violence in all communities across the country.
“The National Threat Assessment Center encourages reporting and early intervention for students, not based on profiles, but on understanding the root causes that ultimately lead to violence,” said NTAC Chief Dr. Lina Alathari. “The Secret Service is distributing this research across the country to help community and school leaders recognize the opportunities that exist to prevent a possible tragedy.”
The latest NTAC publication, Averting Targeted School Violence: A U.S. Secret Service Analysis of Plots Against Schools, uniquely studied 67 disrupted plots against K-12 schools from 2006-2018. Each of the plots was prevented when a bystander, often another student, observed concerning behavior and reported their concern to someone who could help. The types of behavior that elicited concern included students communicating openly about their attack plan, other violent or threatening behaviors, and unusual interests in weapons. NTAC’s latest research continues to affirm that there is no single profile for the type of student who poses a risk. This is consistent with past Secret Service research that has found school attackers varied widely in terms of demographics, academic performance, and social behavior.
NTAC recommends schools adopt multidisciplinary threat assessment programs that are not based on a profile or type of student, but are designed to gather information about a student’s concerning or threatening communications and behaviors, the negative or stressful events the student has experienced, and the resources the student possesses to overcome those challenges. The primary objective of a school threat assessment program should be providing students with help and working to ensure positive outcomes for students and the community.
NTAC’s mission remains to aid our public safety partners in combating the ever-evolving threat of targeted violence, with a particular focus on the safety of schools across the country. Additional NTAC publications focusing on school safety include:
- Enhancing School Safety Using a Threat Assessment Model: An Operational Guide for Preventing Targeted School Violence
- Protecting America’s Schools: A U.S. Secret Service Analysis of Targeted School Violence
To learn more about NTAC, click here. Digital copies of the research are also available on the Secret Service website.