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By LISA J. HURIASH Sun Sentinel
Sun., July 15, 2o18
To prevent school shootings li e the one in Parkland,a., in February, the U.S.
Secret Service released a guide intended to help schools identify tru e students
and other threats to their campuses.
guidecomprising teachers, guidance counsellors, coaches and administrators —who can
meet regularly and identify threats. The
National Threat Assessment Center, which has researched violence in schools. The
agency warns that there is no single profile of students who carry out shootings.
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7/16/2018
U.S. Secret Service urges schools to set up 'threat assessment teams' to prevent shootings I The Star
Florida school shooting suspect Nikolas Cruz, looks up while in court for a
hearing in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.Secret Service is pushing for increased
risk assessment in schools to prevent tragedies such as the February attack
that left 17 dead at Majory Stoneman Douglas High School. (TAIMY
"These acts of violence were committed by students who were loners and socially
isolated, and those who were well -liked and popular," the agency said. "Rather than
focusing solely on a student's personality traits or school performance, we can
learn much more about a student's risk for violence by working through the threat
The guide calls for gathering "the most relevant information about the student's
communications and behaviours, the negative or stressful events the student has
experienced, and the resources the student possesses to overcome those setbacks
and challenges."
Other Secret Service recommendations for schools include defining what would
require staff to intervene, such as violent acts or bringing weapons on campus. The
agency urges setting up a system for tips to be reported, such as an online form that
ensures anonymity. Students are more likely to come forward when they don't have
to fear retribution, the guide says.
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7/16/2018 U.S. Secret Service urges schools to set up 'threat assessment teams' to prevent shootings I The Star
It also calls for having procedures to gauge threats, such as conducting interview
to figure out if students have mental-health issues, an inappropriate interest in
weapons, access to weapons, or who have made unusual or threatening comment].
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