Anonymity May Help Concerned Your Opinion C

read each pargher and give me you opinion on it if you agree or disagree with it

1.

Evaluating the risk of violence is a difficult task, as not all the information being gathered by threat assessment teams is fact. Often, it seems that the threat assessment teams are handed pieces of a puzzle that they are to put together without a guide. The NTAC models are a wonderful resource for those who investigate potential threats, but there is not a checklist that will determine whether a student or individual poses a real threat. According to the 10 key findings of the Safe School Initiative (Fein et al., 2004), an accurate or useful profile of students who engage in targeted school violence does not exist (p. 20). While there are behaviors that are associated with the commitment of school violence, there is not a physical trait or “profile” that exists to determine the potential threat of a student. Even if the behaviors of concern are observed, that does not necessarily mean that the individual will engage in school violence, but it does indicate that an inquiry should be posed.

Because there is no checklist or profile for determining whether a student poses a real threat, it is important that any and all information that is provided to the threat assessment team about a student or individual be subject to inquiries or an investigations, if the inquiry proves to show a merit for concern. A best practice for mitigating the threats, perceived or real, would be to have a designated team member be available at all times to receive information or concerns from the community about a student, and stress that any and all information should be shared with an authority (Fein et al., 2004). Anonymity may help concerned individuals report concerning information without fearing that the student of concern will retaliate if they are outed as the informant, or other concerns the reporter may have. This practice that was mentioned in Fein’s article stood out to me because I believe that many are afraid that the student may find out that they “ratted” them out and fear retaliation, or fear that they will face consequences or repercussions for being privy to this sort of information. This would make sense considering a key finding from the SSI was that other students were involved in some capacity to many cases of school violence (Fein et al., 2004), which could be simply because they were somehow in the know about the supplied information.

I believe that the threat assessment process is a continuum because new ways of perpetrating school violence are always arising, and the patterns exhibited by perpetrators is subject to change. Not every perpetrator of school violence exhibits the same patterns as those before them, and behaviors that are of known concern may not be present in some individuals, or behaviors that have never been viewed as concerning could be present and play a factor for certain individuals. This field does not work in absolutes or concrete profiles, and that is why the threat assessment process is a continuum.

2.

According to Fein et al. (2004) “Threat Assessment in Schools” report there are 10 key findings when assessing a threat. The first key finding is that most violent acts at school do not happening suddenly. When looking back at school shootings authorities, schools, classmates, etc. realized that there were hidden clues. As Fein et al. (2004) calls it finding pieces to the puzzle. Because of this knowledge schools are seeking action to prevent shootings come occurring. Many school shooters were victims of bullying, because of this and with the help of psychologist, people are beginning to understand the true effects of bullying (Fein, Vossekuil, Pollack, Borum, Modzeleski, & Reddy, 2004). Most schools nationwide have implemented an anti-bullying zero tolerance practice. I believe this is the best key factor in preventing school violence.

Another method that schools along with law enforcement can use is teaching students to come forward with any information they may have on a student who may be a potential perpetrator. This can be bias and judgmental, so perhaps each school can have one staff member or team who handles such situations. Perhaps schools can have an anonymous line, mailbox, email, etc.

Nevertheless, when investigating a threat a team should be formed and use all resources available in handling any situation.