Triage

STEP 4 | Identify and Process Reports of Concerning Behavior

Threshold for initiating a BTAM inquiry and response.

Once a report is received, BTAM teams should process and triage these reports of concern

Identifying and processing reports of concern is the first step during a behavioral threat assessment.

Some behaviors are objectively concerning (e.g., unauthorized weapons, threats, assaults) and should warrant immediate action, oftentimes including local law enforcement intervention.

The more frequently reports are checked, the faster teams can respond to concerns.

BTAM teams should ensure reports are routed to the correct party so appropriate action can be taken in a timely manner.

It is important to establish how reports of concern will be initially processed upon receipt.

The approach may vary based upon the organization's characteristics, including organizational size, staffing, and other factors.

small organizations may have reports sent directly to the BTAM team for screening and assessment

large organizations that receive many reports can utilize a more complex triaging process in which reports undergo a preliminary evaluation of their imminence and relevance to the BTAM team

Reports should be received by trained individuals who are familiar with the BTAM process

even an isolated report may be indicative of a larger risk

one component of the organization may be better equipped to evaluate and/or address a concern than another component

Once a report is received, an initial screening should be completed.

Reports that describe emergency situations, such as a terminated employee brandishing a weapon on site, are not appropriate for a BTAM

The report should appear to be accurate, be submitted in good faith, and include specific details about the individual of concern and the nature of the threat or concern.

If the BTAM team is unsure about the credibility of a report, the team should commence additional information gathering until a determination can be made.

The report should contain enough details about the situation that elicited concern to facilitate further investigation

should be routed to the appropriate party, usually the organizational BTAM team, for inquiry and assessment (see Step 5)

Other cases may require no further action from the BTAM team, but they may be appropriate for other services or systems.

the reason for referral should be documented, and the records should be preserved based on the organization's records retention policies

requests for reasonable accommodations

During the initial screening, three determinations should be made about the report:

Is the report describing an emergency?

Is the report actionable?

Is the report credible?

Figure 9 on the following pages illustrates a potential pathway for a report of concern from initial intake to case closure.

Move to Full Assessment

Could the IOC* benefit from other resources?

a preliminary inquiry serves as the minimum level of response