Report page 43

The Behavioral Analysis Unit-1 (BAU-1) is one of four operational BAU units in the FBI’s Critical Incident Response Group.

BAU-1 provides behaviorally-based investigative and operational support to complex and time-sensitive crimes and other significant matters involving acts or threats of violence, including terrorism, threats, arson, bombings, stalking, and anticipated or active crisis situations.

Within BAU-1, the Behavioral Threat Assessment Center uses threat assessment and threat management principles to prevent terrorism and mass casualty targeted violence by assessing the threat posed by a person of concern and providing investigators with suggestions to mitigate that threat.

The FBI’s BAU-1 distinguishes between types of targeted violence by categorizing acts that involve planning and preparation separately from those that arise impulsively based on an emotional response to situational circumstances.

Targeted acts of violence, or predatory violence are often deliberate and calculated, carried out by perpetrators who carefully consider, plan and prepare their attack.

These individuals often display warning signs-observable behaviors that, if noticed and reported in time, create critical opportunities to intervene and prevent violence from occurring.

Warning behaviors may be present prior to violence occurring

Non-predatory violence, or violence that occurs as a reaction to an emotional response, can be impulsive and occur without warning.

These acts of violence often lack warning signs that provide opportunity for bystanders to recognize and report their concerns before the violence occurs.

Does not provide same breadth of observable warning sign behaviors

See Appendix IV for a list of warning signs and predatory behaviors.