Examining interventions on threat assessment cases in a college campus

• In Event: Campus Threat Assessment: Empirical Analysis of Problem Behavior, Reporting Patterns, and Implications for Community Policing

Abstract

Threat assessment teams serve a dual role of responding to threatening behavior and coordinating with other college agencies in order to ensure campus safety (e.g., student affairs, mental health services, and threat assessment teams) (Reaves, 2008). This dual role allows for a wider range of interventions with both threatening subjects and victims (e.g., monitoring subjects, interviewing subjects, arresting subjects, and developing safety plans with victims). However, the nature of these interventions and their outcomes deterring violence over time remains understudied. Therefore, the goal of this study is to explore both aspects in a sample of 91 cases reported to a Midwestern University Police Department lead threat assessment team that involved threat assessment activity (2007-2010). Subjects in our sample were Caucasian males who repeatedly approached, called, or threatened their victims. Cluster analysis showed that interventions can be categorized in three groups: (1) Interventions focusing on victim management, (2) interventions monitoring concerning subjects which occasionally included additional measures (e.g., mental health interventions), and (3) highly demanding interventions that required the interventions of threat assessment teams, student affairs, mental health services, and law enforcement. Preliminary data of multiple follow-ups confirmed that these interventions have been effective in preventing violent outcomes over time. Implications for campus threat assessment activity and community policing will be discussed.

Authors

• Sarah Hoff, University of Nebraska - Lincoln

• Rosa Vinas-Racionero, University of Nebraska - Lincoln

• Mario Scalora, University of Nebraska - Lincoln