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Prepare for this discussion by completing University Threat…
Prepare for this discussion by completing University Threat Assessment Case Study #1 Part 3. Consider steps you might take to ensure everyone’s safety. Consider whether the risk justifies the effort or invasiveness of these measures. .
Provide a synopsis of the case in one sentence
Provide your “Threat Level” conclusion and briefly explain the most significant factors in your conclusion
If your conclusion led you to classify the subject as “Low” threat level, assume you’ve just now received an additional piece of information increases the level to moderate. If your conclusion was moderate or high, leave it there.
Provide some suggestions as to how you might go about ensuring that the subject is not going to endanger anyone, and the target is safe.
All Information Needed to Come Up With Safety Plan is Below:
Case Study #1: Zeke Dillinger, a student in his second year at the college, wears military fatigues every day. One of his instructors, Melinda Warren, just moved to the area and joined the college faculty this year. Warren reported Dillinger to the team because she thinks he is scary and that it’s weird he wears fatigues all the time. Warren said Dillinger’s grades are good and that he has one or two friends in her class, but other students find him strange and go out of their way to avoid him. She doesn’t want him in her class and wants the team to do something about it.
Case Study#1 Part 3 Assessment:
1.What are the Subject’s motives and goals?
What motivated the Subject to make the statements or take actions that caused him/her/her to come to the attention of the team? No action taken or statements made.
Does the situation or circumstance that led to these statements or actions still exist? No statements made.
Does s/he have a major grievance or grudge? No. Against whom?
What efforts have been made to resolve the problem, and what has been the result?
Does s/he feel that any part of the problem is resolved or see any alternatives?
Based on the information provided, Zeke Dillinger’s motives and goals are not clear. He wears military fatigues every day, and this behavior has caused concern among his classmates and instructor, who find him intimidating. However, there is no evidence to suggest that he has made any statements or taken any actions indicating an intent to harm himself or others.
2. Have there been any communications suggesting ideas or an intent to attack?
What, if anything, has the Subject communicated to someone else (e.g., targets, friends, co-workers, faculty, and family) or written in a diary, journal, e-mail, or website concerning his/her grievances, ideas, and/or intentions?
Zeke has not communicated any ideas or intent to attack anyone, nor has he shown inappropriate interest in any workplace, school, or campus attacks or attackers. There is no evidence to suggest that he has engaged in any attack-related behaviors or has the capacity to carry out an act of targeted violence.
Have friends been alerted or warned away?
There are some students in class that stay away from Zeke due to his appearance.
3. Has the Subject shown inappropriate interest in any of the following?
Workplace, school, or campus attacks or attackers
Weapons (including recent acquisition of any relevant weapon)
Incidents of mass violence (e.g., terrorism, workplace violence, and mass murderers)
Zeke has not shown inappropriate interest in the workplace, school, or campus attacks or attackers, weapons, or incidents of mass violence.
4. Has the Subject engaged in attack-related behaviors? This means any behavior that moves an idea of violence toward actual violence. Such behaviors might include:
Developing an attack idea or plan
Making efforts to acquire or practice with weapons
Surveying possible sites and areas for attack
Testing access to potential targets
Rehearsing attacks or ambushes
Zeke has not engaged in attack-related behaviors such as developing an attack idea or plan, making efforts to acquire or practice with weapons, surveying possible sites and areas for attack, or rehearsing attacks or ambushes.
5. Does the Subject have the capacity to carry out an act of targeted violence?
How organized is his/her thinking and behavior?
Does s/he have the means (e.g., access to a weapon) to carry out an attack?
It is unclear whether Zeke has the capacity to carry out an act of targeted violence. It is unknown how organized his thinking and behavior is, and there is no indication that he has access to a weapon.
6. Is the Subject experiencing hopelessness, desperation, and/or despair?
Is there information to suggest that s/he is experiencing desperation and/or despair?
Has s/he experienced a recent failure, loss, and/or loss of status?
Is s/he known to be having difficulty coping with a stressful event?
Has s/he engaged in behavior that suggests he has considered ending his life?
There is no information to suggest that Zeke is experiencing hopelessness, desperation, and/or despair. He has not experienced a recent failure, loss, and/or loss of status, and there is no indication that he is having difficulty coping with a stressful event. He has not engaged in behavior that suggests he has considered ending his life.
7. Does the Subject have a trusting relationship with at least one responsible or trustworthy person?
Does s/he have at least one person he can confide in and believe that person will listen without judging or jumping to conclusions?
Is s/he emotionally connected to other people?
Has s/he previously come to someone’s attention or raised concern in a way that suggests s/he needs intervention or supportive services?
It is unclear whether Zeke has a trusting relationship with at least one responsible or trustworthy person. It is unknown whether he has at least one person he can confide in and believe that person will listen without judging or jumping to conclusions. It is also unknown whether he is emotionally connected to other people or has previously come to someone’s attention or raised concern in a way that suggests he needs intervention or supportive services.
8. Does the Subject see violence as the acceptable, desirable, or only way to solve problems?
Does the setting around him/her (e.g., friends, co-workers, students, parents, and teachers) explicitly or implicitly support or endorse violence as a way of resolving problems or disputes?
Has s/he been “dared” by others to engage in an act of violence?
There is no indication that Zeke sees violence as the acceptable, desirable, or only way to solve problems. There is no indication that the setting around him explicitly or implicitly supports or endorses violence as a way of resolving problems or disputes. He has not been “dared” by others to engage in an act of violence.
9. Are the Subject’s conversation and story consistent with his/her actions?
If there is an interview with the Subject, is his/her story consistent with behaviors observed by others?
Zeke’s conversations and story are consistent with his actions. There is no indication that his story is inconsistent with behaviors observed by others.
10. Are other people concerned about The Subject’s potential for violence?
Are those who know him/her concerned that s/he might take action based on violent ideas or plans?
Are those who know him/her concerned about a specific target?
There are no indications that other people are concerned about Zeke’s potential for violence. There are no indications that those who know him are concerned that he might take action based on violent ideas or plans or that they are concerned about a specific target.
11. What circumstances might affect the likelihood of violence?
What factors in the Subject’s life and/or environment might increase or decrease the likelihood that he will engage in violent behavior?
What is the response of others who know about the Subject’s ideas or plans? (Do they actively discourage him/her from acting violently, encourage him/her to attack, deny the possibility of violence, or passively collude with an attack?)
There are no specific circumstances that might affect the likelihood of violence in Zeke’s case. There are no factors in Zeke’s life and/or environment that might increase or decrease the likelihood that he will engage in violent behavior.
12.Where does the Subject exist along the “pathway toward violence”?
Has s/he: Developed an idea to engage in violence?
Developed a plan?
Taken any steps toward implementing a plan?
Developed the capacity or means to carry out the plan?
How fast is s/he moving toward engaging in violence?
Where can the team intervene to move he Subject off the pathway toward violence?
Based on the information provided, Zeke does not appear to be on a pathway toward violence. He has not developed an idea to engage in violence, a plan, or taken any steps toward implementing a plan. He has not developed the capacity or means to carry out a plan. It is unclear how fast he is moving toward engaging in violence, but there is no indication that he is moving toward violence.
Classification Decision
Assessment of Person/Situation
Use the gathered information and the answers to the Key Investigative Questions to answer these ultimate questions:
Does the Subject pose a threat of harm, whether to him/herself, to others, or to both? That is, does his behavior suggest that s/he is on a pathway toward violence?
Has he developed an idea to engage in violence? No
Has he developed a plan? No
Has he taken any steps toward implementing the plan? No
Has he developed the capacity or means to carry out the plan? No
How fast is he moving toward engaging in violence? No evidence of engaging in any violence.
Where can the team intervene to move the Subject off the pathway toward violence? N/A
If the Subject does not pose a threat of harm, does s/he otherwise show a need for help or intervention, such as mental health care?
Being that Zeke seems to be a loner, there can be a check in for mental health purposes.
Priority Risk Scale
Decide how urgent or imminent the situation is, and assign the corresponding classification level using the following priority risk scale:
Priority 1 – Extreme Risk
Appears to pose an imminent threat, and needs immediate containment and eventually case management. Procedures include:
Contact police/campus security immediately to contain/control person
Develop and implement individual case management plan
Monitor person, situation, and effectiveness of plan
Address any necessary organizational issues
Make changes to plan as necessary
Discontinue case management when person no longer poses a threat
Document investigation, evaluation, plan, and plan implementation.
Priority 2 – High Risk
Appears to pose a non-imminent threat, and requires case management intervention. Procedures include:
Develop and implement individual case management plan
Monitor person, situation, and effectiveness of plan.
Address any necessary organizational issues.
Make changes to plan as necessary.
Discontinue case management when person no longer poses a threat.
Document investigation, evaluation, plan, and plan implementation.
Priority 3 – Moderate Risk
Does not appear to pose a threat at this time, but exhibits behaviors that are likely to be disruptive to the community. Warrants a referral and/or monitoring plan. Procedures include:
Develop and implement a referral plan to get person connected with resources needed to solve problems.
Address any necessary organizational issues.
Monitor person and situation if necessary.
Document investigation, evaluation, and any referral or monitoring.
Priority 4 – Low Risk
Does not appear to pose a threat at this time, and does not exhibit behaviors that are likely to be disruptive to the community. Warrants a monitoring plan to deter escalation. Procedures include:
Develop and implement a plan to monitor the person/situation for any change.
Priority 5 – No Identified Risk
Does not appear to pose a threat at this time, and no intervention or monitoring is necessary. Close case after proper documentation.
Case Classification and Rationale
Priority Level 4
Rationale (Summarize in one or two paragraphs):
Based on the information provided in the Threat Assessment Template, Zeke Dillinger poses a low level of threat. Zeke’s motives and goals are not clear from the information provided. He wears military fatigues every day, but there is no indication that this is tied to any specific goal or motive. It is possible that he simply likes wearing military clothing. The situation that led to Zeke coming to the attention of the team was his instructor’s perception that he is “scary” and that it is “weird” that he wears fatigues all the time. However, there is no indication that this situation is ongoing or that there is a major grievance or grudge against anyone.
