Risk Assessment

The U.S. Secret Service behavioral threat assessment model was developed to identify individuals displaying threatening or concerning behavior, gather information to assess if an individual poses a risk of violence, and then manage the risk by implementing appropriate interventions.

we describe how organizations can successfully implement a behavioral threat assessment and management program to identify individuals of concern

the Secret Service model is designed to identify individuals displaying threatening or concerning behavior, gather information to assess if an individual poses a risk of violence, and then manage the risk by implementing appropriate interventions.

STEP 5 | Gather Information to Assess for Risk

Other behaviors are contextually concerning, in that they may not prompt immediate safety concerns but should be assessed in the full context of the individual's situation and their environment

Utilizing a low threshold of concern allows BTAM teams to identify individuals eliciting safety concerns before their behavior escalates to the point where there is an imminent risk of harm.

even an isolated report may be indicative of a larger risk

BTAM teams must conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the risk posed by the individual

BTAM teams should use a fact-based process to gather information from diverse sources

The purpose of the assessment phase in BTAM is to determine whether an individual poses a risk of harm to themselves or others

Gathering this information enables the BTAM team to gain a reasonable and articulable understanding of the risk posed

By utilizing the Systems Approach, BTAM teams can identify and synthesize information from numerous sources to make a holistic determination about the risk

leveraging organizational systems will often be sufficient to assess and manage the risk posed

This approach ensures decisions are not made based on subjective judgments or initial impressions, but instead on a comprehensive and methodical review of relevant information.

Central to assessing whether an individual poses a risk of targeted violence is understanding the nature of concerning behaviors commonly observed in previous attackers.

BTAM teams will be better equipped to make an informed assessment of risk if they have identified what is, or could be, motivating someone to become violent

As information is gathered from interviews, records, and other sources, the BTAM team must assess whether an individual of concern poses a risk of violence

Does the individual of concern pose a risk of violence at this time?

The BTAM team should make this determination by considering all information obtained using the Systems Approach and considering relevant Assessment Themes

Assessing risk is a dynamic and continuous process

The BTAM team should routinely assess any changes or new information that may increase, decrease, or contextualize the risk of harm posed by the individual of concern

assesses whether this behavior is a trend and whether it is indicative of violent intent

has demonstrated that future tragedies are preventable if communities are equipped with the training and resources necessary to identify individuals of concern, assess their risk of violence, and intervene appropriately.