A violence threat risk assessment determines if a person making threats poses a danger to their intended target(s). In the event of an incident, New Westminster Schools staff who are trained in threat assessment will investigate to find out if there is potential risk to the individual(s) being threatened and/or to the person(s) making the threats.
Parents, staff, students, and members of the community have a duty to report all threats and threat-related behaviour to school or district administration.
Questions and answers
1. What behaviours cause a student threat assessment?
A school will initiate a threat assessment if a student engages in behaviour or utterances that includes, but is not limited to:
- Threatening serious violence or violence with intent to harm or kill.
- Verbal, written, drawn threats to harm/kill others.
- Internet-based (e.g. social media, email, text messages, etc.) threats to harm/kill.
- Threatening gestures.
- Bomb/fire threats and possession of weapons (including replicas).
2. What is a school threat assessment team?
As the name suggests, a school threat assessment team is a multi-disciplinary group that evaluates whether threats to students or the school community by an individual or individuals pose serious risks.
A school-based team may include:
- The school principal or vice principal(s).
- A school counsellor.
- A school resource teacher.
- A police officer.
A district-level team may also consist of district staff, the safe schools coordinator, and representatives from provincial ministries and/or agencies like the Ministry of Education and Child Care or the Fraser Health Authority.
3. What is a threat assessment’s purpose?
- Ensure the safety of students, staff, families, and the community.
- Understand the threat’s context.
- Understand the factors that contributed to the threat maker’s behaviour.
- Once broader safety is confirmed, pro-actively develop an intervention plan that addresses the emotional and physical safety of the threat maker.
4. What happens during a student threat assessment?
A student’s threatening behaviour is reported to the school principal, who will activate the threat assessment protocol as an initial response.
Once the team is active, the group may hold interviews with the student making the threat(s), the intended targets, parents, and other staff to determine the level of risk and to develop an appropriate response. The team will share intervention plans with parents, staff, and students, as required.
5. What happens to the information gathered during interviews?
Part of the assessment process includes collecting information on the incident, the students involved, etc. New Westminster Schools is subject to personal information and privacy laws and the district will comply with all legislation, including limiting information collection to that which is necessary and relevant to address a risk/threat. The district will not collect information as part of the assessment if there is no reason to believe a threat exists.
Collected information may be provided to law enforcement authorities in appropriate circumstances.
6. Can you refuse to participate in a threat assessment?
While it is important for all parties to engage in the process, there is no requirement that they do so. However, the assessment and the creation of intervention plans, information collecting, etc. will continue regardless.