Thresholds for case initiation

Utilizes a low threshold of concern. Acting at the first sign of concerning behavior, instead of waiting for a direct or explicit threat, improves the chances of preventing violence.

Oftentimes, individuals eliciting concern have not violated a criminal statute, which serves as an important reminder that an individual need not commit a criminal offense before being the subject of a behavioral threat assessment.

Imagine a scenario in which a local law enforcement agency is notified by a concerned family member that their loved one has become increasingly angry at his former boss, who fired him after a series of disciplinary actions for safety violations. The individual of concern made comments about having nothing left to lose and claimed that his former boss was to blame for his recent divorce.

Preventing targeted violence requires a prevention mindset along with a clearly defined policy that establishes the BTAU within an agency while clarifying the unit’s legal authorities, operational objectives, and threshold for initiating cases.

The agency can articulate the legal authorities under which the unit will operate, specify unit objectives, and clarify the threshold for case initiation.

BTAU policies should clearly establish the thresholds for initiating a behavioral threat assessment, and those thresholds should not be limited to criminal behaviors or direct threats.

For example, while making a direct threat against the president would initiate a behavioral threat assessment, it is not the Secret Service’s sole threshold. The Secret Service initiates a Protective Intelligence investigation when an individual displays a threatening or concerning direction of interest toward any person or place protected by the agency.

Similarly, a BTAU should initiate a behavioral threat assessment in response to concerning behaviors.

As such, the threshold for initiating a behavioral threat assessment should include behaviors along this entire continuum, not only behaviors that have a criminal nexus.

Within the boundaries of these protections, BTAUs should operate with a low threshold of concern, promoting early intervention and de-escalation wherever possible.

Parents notify law enforcement that their 21-year-old son is driving to the state capital. They state he has recently grown paranoid about the government spying on him and say that he wants to speak to the governor.

An individual shows up at her former workplace following a recent termination, stating that her former boss is going to “get what he deserves.”

Police receive reports from a family member of a convicted felon who is in possession of firearms. After police arrest the individual for the federal weapons violation, a search of the felon’s person produces a handwritten list of names, including several family members and former coworkers.

An individual who has a history of violent outbursts arrives at the home of his ex-wife, who has a restraining order filed against him. After unsuccessfully demanding to see his children, over whom the wife has full legal custody, he leaves the property while shouting, “I’ll be back, and I will get my children.”

Coworkers notify law enforcement after they notice an individual is sharing songs and images on social media about violence and retribution. In the weeks prior, his work performance decreased drastically, and he began to withdraw socially from coworkers, with whom he had previously been friendly. On the day he posted the violent songs on social media, he did not show up to work.

Concerned friends notify law enforcement that their friend has recently expressed growing dissatisfaction with the current political climate, and she feels motivated to “do something big” to bring attention to the problems. The friends reported the individual has recently started selling off her possessions and has stated that she “would rather die than see the country continue in its current state.”

A school contacts local law enforcement about a student expressing fascination with a past school attacker. The student completed a school writing assignment about how he idolizes the school attacker and hopes to emulate him. The school has tried repeatedly to engage with the student’s parents, but they have been unresponsive.

After triaging reports for imminent threats to life and confirming BTAU jurisdiction, the BTAU must evaluate whether the reports and information received are relevant to the unit’s mission and if the behavior described warrants an assessment.

Foregoing an assessment should be reserved for scenarios when doing so is clearly articulable and defensible.

If a report is deemed actionable, the BTAU will initiate an assessment following the procedures described in STEP 4.

For any actionable report of concerning behavior that meets the BTAU’s criteria for opening a case, the minimum level of response would be an inquiry.

Respond as necessary. Is a behavioral threat assessment still

Is the report actionable? appropriate. | necessary? | appropriate. YES Initiate a preliminary inquiry.