Three Things I Wish Threat Management Teams Would Remember

1.Threat Assessment is not the same as Profiling 

This is true. Threat Assessment is, in actuality, the “antithesis of profiling.”  

Profiling 

Profiling involves generalizing about an individual actions/behavior based on the individual’s similarity to high-risk groups; it is an inductive process that is not generally useful for potential threats or acts of Intentional or Targeted Violence. 

Threat Assessment 

Behavioral Threat Assessment, on the other hand, involves an individualized assessment of the person of concern in a particular situation and at a particular point in time. The process is facts-based, deductive, dynamic, and responsive to the nature and process of the threatening situation. 

2. The goal of Behavioral Threat Assessment is NOT necessarily to solve a crime, effect a termination, and/or make an arrest

Threat Management cases seldom result in the arrest, commitment, or prosecution of the Persons) of Concern. At its core, Behavioral Threat Assessment is a useful tool to assess the likelihood of violent act(s) by the person(s) of interest against individuals or organizations based upon evidence of a “Plan” and the ability to carry out that plan to commit intentional or targeted violence.  

3. Threat Management Cases are not routinely “Closed” 

Unlike other types of investigations, most Threat Management Cases require extended “monitoring,” often for weeks, months…even years after intervention strategies are employed. Prematurely closing a Threat Management case can result in a recurrence of the concerning behavior, to include a potential escalation to the violent act(s) Teams are trying to avoid/mitigate.   

By: Dave Benson MS, CTM, Senior Advisor for Global Operations and Threat Mitigation