Two New Threat Assessment Resources

Here are two new resources that we felt are worth highlighting, for those in the threat assessment field or who work with anyone in threat assessment:  

The first is an article in the 2011 issue of the URMIA Journal: "Campus Threat Assessment and Management Teams: What Risk Managers Need to Know Now."  The article covers the emerging standard of care in campus threat assessment, and identifies steps that risk managers can take to make their threat assessment process consistent with the standard of care.  While written for campus risk managers, the article is useful for a broader audience.  This article was co-authored by Jeff Nolan, Esq., Marisa Randazzo, PhD, and Gene Deisinger, Ph.D.

The second is an article from Police Chief magazine on the role of police psychologists as consultants to law enforcement agencies, including in threat assessment.  Gene Deisinger co-wrote this article's section on threat assessment and management.  It offers a great perspective on the various roles that psychologists can play in support of federal, state, and local law enforcement.

5 Pitfalls to Avoid in Threat Assessment

As a follow up to the first article in Higher Ed Impact on tips to make your threat assessment team more effective, Dr. Gene Deisinger discusses five common pitfalls that can plague higher ed threat assessment teams - and ways to avoid them.  According to this second article in Higher Ed Impact, 5 common pitfalls to avoid are:

1. "Focusing solely on increased reporting
2. Focusing only on students
3. Reinventing the wheel
4. Lack of due diligence in vetting possible vendors
5. Failing to follow up, monitor, and assess whether the initial intervention was sufficient."

For the full article - including ways to avoid these pitfalls, please click here.

3 Tips for Making Your Threat Assessment Team More Effective

In the August 4, 2011 edition of Academic Impressions' Higher Ed Impact, Dr. Gene Deisinger outlines three tips for making higher education threat assessment teams more effective, even in the face of budget cuts.  According to the article, the three strategies he recommends are: 

1. "Define your team's mission and purpose clearly.
2. Do more with what you already have by finding opportunities for greater collaboration between departments that provide resources and services to students.
3. Cultivate a sense of shared purpose."

For more on these tips, read the full article here.