Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships
Threat Assessment and Management Teams
Overview
Threat assessment and management teams are effective proactive and protective measures that are designed to
prevent – not predict – potential acts of targeted violence and terrorism. Through identifying and managing potential
threats, these teams provide alternatives to investigation and/or prosecution for bystanders who are actively seeking
intervention assistance with a known individual at risk of mobilizing to violence.
Effective threat assessment and management teams are multi-disciplinary and may include education administrators,
mental health and social service providers, faith leaders, medical personnel, law enforcement, technology experts, and
others. While it is important for law enforcement to be involved to ensure a comprehensive and inclusive approach –
and to intervene if the threat escalates – partnerships with multidisciplinary partners are crucial, as the primary goal of
this approach is to provide individuals with support services before the threat rises to a level requiring law enforcement.
Implementing an effective Threat Assessment and Management Team involves a constant process of:
1. Identifying any concerning behaviors of the individual and any changes in those
behavior.
2. Assessing the individual’s behavior to determine the level of concern.
3. Implementing and managing intervention strategies for individuals to be
directed towards the appropriate support services for case management,
before the individual commits an act of violence.
Static vs. Dynamic Factors
Both static and dynamic factors play a role in threat assessment. Because dynamic factors change over time, these may
be influenced through intervention. Dynamic factors are used for the short-term assessment of violence, including
targeted violence. Dynamic factors are the main focus of threat assessment and management teams, as behavioral
changes can be easily identified by bystanders and offer critical insights as to where an individual should be referred.
Assessing an individual’s behavior involves accumulating evidence and data over time. As evidence and data change, the
overall assessment is changed leading to a flexible approach to case management.
Static factors (historical elements; factors that cannot
be changed or change only in one direction) may be
more useful in the prediction of long-term risk of
general violence.
Dynamic factors are changeable and can fluctuate, and
can include behavioral (drug abuse, stockpiling weapons,
psychotic symptoms, etc.), social (number of close
relationships, types of friends, etc.), and attitudinal
(antigovernment sentiment, “us versus them,” etc.).
History
of
Violence
Gender
Age
etc...
Behavioral
Social
Attitudinal
etc...
Recommended partners and issues to consider:
✓ Multidisciplinary teams & support networks
✓ IT support for analysis of social media behaviors
✓ Law enforcement
✓ Training on topics like duty to warn, HIPAA, etc
✓ Tailoring team to the specific needs of the organization
✓ Scientific research on risk/protective factors
✓ Recognize limitations and barriers of capacity and
resources within an organization
Resources
Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships
Many federal, state, and local governments have resources on threat assessment and management teams. Below are a few of these
toolkits and educational materials that may help to provide examples and guidelines for developing such teams in your
communities. While many are geared towards schools, they can be adapted for other organizations.
Description
National Threat Assessment
Center (NTAC)’s “Enhancing
School Safety Using a Threat
Assessment Model”
NTAC’s operational guide for preventing targeted school violence provides a comprehensive
approach to risk management, threat assessment, suggestion for reporting mechanisms, and
prevention and intervention as it relates to bullying in schools.
https://www.secretservice.gov/sites/default/files/reports/2020-
06/USSS_NTAC_Enhancing_School_Safety_Guide_7.11.18.pdf
FBI’s “Making Prevention a
Reality: Identifying,
Assessing, and Managing the
Threat of Targeted Attacks”
This report, a practical guide on assessing and managing the threat of targeted violence, contains concrete
strategies to help communities prevent these types of incidents. It details the importance of awareness while
developing a threat assessment, including significant research as well as potential barriers to successful
engagement. The report also emphasizes creating a culture of shared responsibility in threat assessment and
management teams. https://www.fbi.gov/file-repository/making-prevention-a-reality.pdf/view
Association of Threat
Assessment Professionals
(ATAP)
The ATAP is a nonprofit organization comprised of multidisciplinary professionals from aw
enforcement to mental health professionals and provides members with extensive resources for
best practices, certifications, trainings, and networking opportunities.
https://www.atapworldwide.org/
Department of Education’s
(ED) “Early Warning, Timely
Response”
Department of Education’s
Readiness and Emergency
Management for Schools
(REMS)
This guide emphasizes an active and inclusive approach to identifying behavioral changes in
youth and acknowledges the need for multidisciplinary involvement in identifying and assessing
these changes. The report also reminds readers to view these behavioral changes within context
and to avoid stigmatizing. https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/172854.pdf
The Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools Technical Assistance Center offers live
and virtual trainings on school behavioral threat assessments. Audiences will learn about the
effective elements of a school threat assessment and how to recognize online risks. The training
is encouraged for not only school districts, but for community partners such as law enforcement,
youth-serving organizations, and local mental/behavioral health.
https://rems.ed.gov/Docs/Threat_Assessment_Website_Marketing_Flyer_508C.pdf
The CGIS Threat management Unit is a prevention based behavioral analysis program. Their flyer
provides important definitions of concerning behavior, lists common grievances, and may
Coast Guard Investigative
Service Threat Management
Unit
provide an example of best practices when communicating across organizations.
https://www.dcms.uscg.mil/Portals/10/DOL/BaseSeattle/HSWL/docs/BehavioralRiskforCommands.pdf
Substance Abuse and Mental
SAMHSA and the Department of Education created a 90-minute presentation to be presented to
Health Services (SAMHSA) and
local communities as a general guide on risk and protective factors, as well as the warning signs
DOE’s “Addressing the Risk of
that are associated with the risk of violent behavior.
Violent Behavior in Youth”
https://safesupportivelearning.ed.gov/addressing-risk-violent-behavior-youth-know-signs-youth-violence-
and-how-identify-and-reduce-risk
FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit
(BAU), Behavioral Threat
Assessment Center (BTAC)
The FBI’s BTAC provides behaviorally-based investigative and operational support including case consultations,
to law enforcement and threat assessment and management teams working on terrorism and targeted violence.
BTAC’s services can be secured via your local BAU Threat Management Coordinator (TMC).
https://www2.fbi.gov/hq/isd/cirg/ncavc.htm#bau
ED and the U.S. Secret
This worksheet provides a list of suggested questions to help guide a threat assessment and
Service’s “Eleven Questions
management team when evaluating an individual of concern. These questions may help direct
to Guide Data Collection in a
the team in referring the individual to appropriate services.
Threat Assessment Inquiry”
https://health.esc2.net/sites/Health/files/u134/Eleven-Questions-to-Guide-Data-Collection-in-a-Threat-Assessment-Inquiry.pdf
The Ohio Attorney General’s
The Ohio School Threat Assessment Training provides best practices in 10 chapters of video
Office’s “Threat Assessment
trainings, which includes emphasis on establishing a multidisciplinary team, determining an
Training”
appropriate threshold for law enforcement intervention, and the need for training for all
stakeholders involved. https://www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov/threatassessment