1. Threat Assessment Team and Violence Prevention Committee

2. Introduction Virginia Law 23-9.2:10: – Enacted 2008 – Requires public institutions of higher education to establish a violence prevention committee and a threat assessment team – Addresses serious safety issues involving members of the college community – Does not supersede, supplant or replace current judicial procedures or protocols for reporting incidents and safety concerns 2

3. Promoting a Safe Environment for All Safety of our faculty, staff and students is top priority Policies in place for addressing disruptive, suspicious, or unusual behavior Policies provide direction in handling homicidal, suicidal, assault or self-injurious threats and/or behavior 3

4. Mission Statement The TNCC Threat Assessment Team and Violence Prevention Committee are committed to improving community safety through proactive, collaborative, coordinated, objective, and thoughtful approaches to the prevention, identification, assessment, intervention, and management of situations that pose, or may reasonably pose, a threat to the safety, security, and well-being of the campus community. 4

5. Purpose of the Threat Assessment Team Preserving the safety and security of our students and employees are top priorities for Thomas Nelson Community College and one that requires vigilance, communication, and coordination. To facilitate and implement collaboration among the many individuals whose actions and efforts affect our collective security, Thomas Nelson Community College through its policies and procedures to comply with that portion of the law that addresses the Threat Assessment Team. 5

6. Threat Assessment Team Preserving the safety and security of our students and employee is top priority Requires vigilance, communication and coordination Facilitates collaboration among many individuals 6

7. Threat Assessment Team Membership Law enforcement, mental health professional, and representatives from Student Affairs and Human Resources Members include: – Vice President for Finance and Administration – Chief of Police – Deans of Student Development – Director of Human Resources – Safety Officer – Student Counseling Staff – VCCS General Counsel (when needed) 7

8. Threat Assessment Team Protocol Protocol was established to provide clear parameters regarding incidents/threats warranting investigation: Self-injurious behavior Disruptive behavior that violates campus safety Unusual behavior 8

9. Threat Assessment Team Protocol (continued) Once an incident is reported, members of the Threat Assessment Team determine appropriate steps: Based on severity of the concern, ability of the person in question to engage in any resolution, and the situation Mental Health Issues Response Guidelines will be used as template for addressing high-risk and low-risk concerns of both students and non- students 9

10. Threat Assessment Team Protocol (continued) Anyone violating any of the protocols may be removed – temporarily or permanently – from the campus. In situations of elevated concern, person may be asked not to return to campus until certain criteria are met. 10

11. Identification of Threats Threat assessment – a strategy for preventing violence through identification and evaluation of individuals or groups that pose a threat to harm someone, followed by intervention designed to reduce the risk of violence. Involves both assessment and intervention Definition is broad and inclusive so potential sources of violence are not overlooked 11

12. Identification of Threats (continued) Investigations may include possible threats not found to be genuine or serious May be expressed in private, such as journal entries or written, with no 3 rd party audience Can be explicit (“I’m going to kill him!”) or veiled (“Wait and see what happens now!”) Can be expressed through any media (e.g., cell phones, radios, internet [email, social network sites]) 12

13. Identification of Threats (continued) Can be expressed through drawings or other virtual presentations Can be expressed behaviorally, such as through gestures Possession of a weapon (concealed or unconcealed) can indicate a threat and will merit an investigation 13

14. Identification of Threats (continued) Threats may be indicated when no explicit threat has been communicated but strongly suspected. For example: Someone becomes very angry and verbally abusive in a way that suggests violent intentions. 14

15. Identification of Threats (continued) In summary, threats must be identified and reported in order to be investigated. Any behavior you are concerned about should be reported. 15

16. Mission of the Violence Prevention Committee The TNCC Violence Prevention Committee adopts as its mission the establishment of educational and prevention programs and the determination of policies and procedures to secure the well-being and safety of our students, employees, and neighbors. 16

17. Purpose of the Violence Prevention Committee To provide guidance to students, faculty and staff regarding recognition of threatening behavior To identify members of the campus community to whom threatening behavior should be reported To establish policies and procedures to secure the well-being and safety of students, employees, and neighbors To establish relationships or utilize existing relationships with law enforcement agencies and mental health agencies to assess and intervene with individuals whose behavior may present a treat to safety 17

18. Objectives of the Violence Prevention Committee To implement a comprehensive on-campus educational program about violence for all students, faculty, staff, and volunteers To provide DVDs and videotapes on workplace violence and encourage its use at faculty and staff meetings, as well as student orientation classes (SDV-100) and student organization meetings 18

19. Objectives of the Violence Prevention Committee (continued) To include the Threat Assessment Team and Violence Prevention Committee’s policies in the Employee Orientation Handbook and distribute to all college employees To provide advocacy, referrals, initial counseling and support for victims of crime 19

20. Objectives of the Violence Prevention Committee (continued) To work with the Threat Assessment Team to develop an online Threat Assessment website (www.tncc.edu/police/tat/) with links to report a concern, Threat Assessment Team resources, F.A.Q.’s, Threat Assessment Team protocol, and the following websites:www.tncc.edu/police/tat/ – Campus Police (www.tncc.edu/police/)www.tncc.edu/police/ – Counseling Center (www.tncc.edu/student_development/counseling.php)www.tncc.edu/student_development/counseling.php – Human Resources (www.tncc.edu/general/human_resources.php)www.tncc.edu/general/human_resources.php 20

21. Threat Assessment Team and Violence Prevention Committee Protocol Once an incident is reported, members of the Threat Assessment Team determine appropriate steps based on severity of the concern, ability of the person in question to engage in any resolution, and the situation. Information obtained in the course of violence prevention must be recorded in a violence prevention file. Each violence prevention file must contain a standard form that will be developed and distributed to all team members. 21

22. Threat Assessment Team and Violence Prevention Committee Protocol (continued) Access to the violence prevention file shall be limited to members of the Violence Prevention Committee. The file shall be maintained in the office of the Chief of Police and is open to public review upon written request. All members of the Violence Prevention Committee and Threat Assessment Team will be required to sign a confidentiality statement. 22

23. The Committee Members Participants who established the guidelines were selected from across the campus. They are: Lee AffholterCassandra Creech Sandra Calderon-GarzaGarry Dailey Sanjeev ChopraBetsy Harrison David CoffeyJoyce Johnson Joy CookeLisa Johnson Catina CopelandVirginia Keithley 23

24. The Committee Members (continued) Thomas KellenTom Pringle Deborah LichniakTy Reynolds Kelvin MaxwellLille Ricucci Joyce McGowanMike Snyder Charles NurnbergerSusan Stainback Eddie PerryMarilyn Starkes Susan PongratzHattie Turner Peggy PrebleLawrence Wilder 24