Source: 37p. SIEC No: 20010662

This report attempts to lay a foundation for developing effective assessment & prevention approaches to school violence by first distinguishing planned school-based attacks from other forms of school & youth violence. The three assessments approaches that have been advocated & used in some jurisdictions (profiling, guided professional judgment, & automated decision-making) are reviewed. The inappropriateness of these approaches for preventing planned school-based attacks is demonstrated. The threat assessment approach, developed by the U.S. Secret Service to prevent assassinations, is described. Its utility for responding to communications or behaviours of concern that students may present in school settings is examined. (76 refs.)