US Secret Service Video on Averting Targeted School Violence

Fri, 04/28/2023 - 12:00

The United States Secret Service

NTAC averted video

New Video on Averting Targeted School Violence

The U.S. Secret Service National Threat Assessment Center (NTAC) extends our deepest condolences to all communities impacted by targeted school violence.

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As part of its mission to prevent targeted violence, the National Threat Assessment Center (NTAC) has long maintained a particular focus on the safety of children in schools. To further advance this mission of protecting school communities, NTAC has released a video which highlights the findings and implications of its research on school violence prevention based upon the study Averting Targeted School Violence: A U.S. Secret Service Analysis of Plots Against Schools (2021). This study examined 67 disrupted plots against K-12 schools that took place between 2006 and 2018. This important video describes the thinking and behavior of the plotters, as well as their attack plans, how the plots were discovered, and how this information can be utilized to prevent violence in schools.

Watch the Video Here

Additional Resources on School Violence Prevention

NTAC research has also produced a number of other resources to assist community partners in preventing violence in schools.

NTAC reports

Enhancing School Safety Using a Threat Assessment Model: An Operational Guide for Preventing Targeted School Violence provides eight actionable steps for establishing multidisciplinary behavioral threat assessment teams. Behavioral threat assessment is a proactive approach to identify, assess, and appropriately intervene with students who display a behavior that elicits concern for the safety of themselves or others.

View Guide

Protecting America's Schools: A U.S. Secret Service Analysis of Targeted School Violence is the most comprehensive analysis of targeted school violence ever produced by the federal government. The study offers unparalleled insight into the motives, behaviors, and other situational factors that ultimately led to school violence.

Read Report

Averting Targeted School Violence: A U.S. Secret Service Analysis of Plots Against Schools examines instances when a student advanced a plan to attack their school but was stopped before violence occurred. The report affirms the importance of bystander reporting and intervention before a student's behavior escalates to violence.