PURPOSE
In accordance with Chapter 16-21-23.2 of the RI General Laws “Each local school board or committee shall adopt written policies for the establishment of threat assessment teams, including the assessment of and intervention with individuals whose behavior may pose a threat to the safety of school staff or students consistent with the model policies developed by the school safety committee. Such policies shall include procedures for referrals to community services or health care providers for evaluation or treatment when appropriate.”
This following procedure shall serve to set forth School Department guidelines and processes for assessing the validity and severity of threats made by students towards themselves, another student, or groups.
PHILOSOPHY
The West Warwick Public Schools recognizes that the safety of students and staff is our highest priority. To this end, any student that makes a threatening statement or action will undergo a screening to determine credibility and, if warranted, a threat assessment will be conducted by the respective school’s threat assessment team.
DEFINITIONS
A threat is a concerning communication or behavior that indicates or suggests that an individual poses a danger to the safety of school staff or students through acts of violence or other behavior that would cause harm to self or others. The threat may be expressed/communicated behaviorally, orally, visually, in writing, electronically, or through any other means, and is considered a threat regardless of whether it is observed by or communicated directly to the target of the threat or observed by or communicated to a third party, and regardless of whether the target of the threat is aware of the threat.
A threat assessment is a fact-based process emphasizing an appraisal of observed (or reasonably observable) behaviors to identify potentially dangerous or violent situations, to assess them, and to manage/address them.
A low risk threat is one in which the individual/situation does not appear to pose a threat of violence or serious harm to self/others, and any exhibited issues/concerns can be resolved easily.
A moderate risk threat is one in which the person/situation does not appear to pose a threat of violence, or serious harm to self/others at this time, but exhibits behaviors that indicate a continuing intent and potential for future violence or
serious harm to self/others, and/or exhibits other concerning behavior that requires intervention.
A high risk threat is one in which the person/situation appears to pose a threat of violence, exhibiting behaviors that indicate both a continuing intent to harm and efforts to acquire the capacity to carry out the plan, and may also exhibit other concerning behavior that requires intervention.
An imminent threat exists when the person/situation appears to pose a clear and immediate threat of serious violence toward others that requires containment and action to protect identified or identifiable target(s), and may also exhibit other concerning behavior that requires intervention.
PROCEDURE STATEMENT
Whenever a threat is made, a screening will be completed to determine if the threat is credible. The screening will be an informal conversation with the student, and must include (at least) a mental health service provider and an administrator. If the threat is deemed credible, a referral will be made to the threat assessment team. A critical incident report will be completed regardless of whether a threat assessment is warranted.
Each school will have a multidisciplinary threat assessment team. This team will have a minimum of three (3) members. The team must include the following members: school administrator (or designee), School Resource Officer (or designee), and mental health provider. Additional members should be included as appropriate. Basic threat assessment inquiry steps are as follows:
Maintain the student in a separate, supervised location.
Assemble the threat assessment team.
Gather a variety of information, including, but not limited to those indicated on the threat assessment form.
Contact the parents.
The Threat Assessment Team, not including the student, will organize and analyze the information.
Interview the student using the threat assessment form as a guideline (mental health provider and familiar faculty or staff member).
At the conclusion of the interview, the Mental Health provider returns to the team to share the information. (The student remains in a supervised location.)
Determine the level of concern leading to an action plan using the threat assessment form.
The threat assessment team meets with the parent and student to review.
Develop an action and support plan.
Notify any person who may be “in harm’s way” as a result of the threat.
Notify the West Warwick Police Department for any moderate or high risk threat.
Continued monitoring of the student and the effectiveness of the plan.
Discipline offenses will be recorded in the student information system.
The accompanying Threat Assessment Form will be completed for each assessment. The accompanying Duty to Warn Letter will be utilized, following a phone contact, when an imminent threat is made against an identifiable individual or group.
Date Adopted:
07/09/2025