Threat Assessment and Risk Management Services
Workplace Violence
School Violence
Domestic Violence
By defining behaviors that will not be tolerated, employees are put on notice as to which behaviors and actions will result in immediate termination. Applicability of this policy will apply to all employees. It is suggested that every employee read and sign the policy statement. By signing the Policy, the employee agrees to and understands your corporation's position on workplace violence.
“The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health has found that an average of 20 workers are murdered each week in the United States. In addition, an estimated 1 million workers – 18,000 per week – are victims of nonfatal workplace assaults each year. Nonfatal assaults occur among men and women at an almost equal rate.” - NIOSH Facts Violence in the Workplace, June 1997
Warning Signs of Workplace Violence
- Making threats or allusions to violence against others;
- Repeated complaints about working conditions;
- Bringing weapons to the workplace or recent acquisition of firearms;
- Documentation of co-workers activities when it is not their responsibilities to do so;
- Unusual communication with co-workers or supervisors;
- History of conflict with co-workers or management;
- Involvement in several lawsuits or unreasonable grievances;
Types of Workplace Violence and Their Characteristics
- Violence by stranger
- Violence by customers or client
- Violence by co-worker
- Violence by personal relation
School Violence
Quotes That Appear In Print Regarding School Violence and Prevention Strategies
The documentary Bowling for Columbine detailed all to clearly the horror of violence in schools. Sadly, school violence statistics indicate the problem is still on the rise. What steps can you take to prevent a tragedy in your school?
James P. McGee, Ph.D. the definition of "The Classroom Avenger" is an adolescent male who perpetrates a non-traditional, multi-victim homicide in a school or classroom setting.”
“America’s classrooms need to be protected. Every day 53,000,000 plus children - 20 percent of the total US population – attend school or day care. Many participate in after-school programs as well. Today, schools are vulnerable to a range of potential threats including campus shootings, natural disasters, accidents, and catastrophic terrorism incidents (CTI) – an event that would have a profound effect nationally, regionally and in a community where all schools within the area would be affected.” Source: School Safety In The 21st Century: Adapting to New Security Challenges Post – 9/11.
“Threats and risks to students, staff and faculty are both tangible and intangible. Schools mitigate those risks those risks in a variety of ways every day. An assessment of the school environment is a necessary step in preparing for emergencies.” Source: School Safety In The 21st Century.
“Safety and security technology can only be one tool in a comprehensive program that each school must develop to create a safe learning environment that is perceived to be safe by all students and staff.” Source: Jeremy Travis Director, National Institute of Justice US Department of Justice.
“The issues come down to applying security technologies in schools that are effective, affordable, and politically acceptable but still useful with the difficult constraints. Effectiveness, affordability, and acceptable are difficult tradeoffs and, occasionally, a seemingly ineffective solution to a security problem is chosen because of a lack of funding or pressure from the community to do something. Although many effective security measures are too expensive for schools, cost alone is not often the ultimate driver. Most major changes brought on not by foresight but as a response to some undesirable incident. This is not to say that a good argument should be made for applying every physical security approach in every school. “Appropriate” preparation is, by far, the greater “art” in security system design, and it includes an evolving plan, beginning with defining a particular schools risks. Why is this careful identification of risk important? Because few facilities, especially schools, can afford a security program that protects against all possible incidents. No two schools are alike and, therefore, there is no single approach to security that will work ideally for all schools. From year to year, even, a school’s security strategy will need revision because the world around it and the people inside it will always be changing.” Most school districts or school boards will be more supportive of security measures and the requested funding if they are well educated about the most likely risks faced each year and the options available.” Research Report: The Appropriate and Effective Use of Security Technologies in U.S. Schools.
“School violence has increasingly come into the public eye due to deadly multiple shootings in such places as Littleton, Colorado; Jonesboro, Arkansas; and Springfield Oregon. The possibility of school shootings has become an issue for urban, rural, and suburban communities alike. Since 1992, 22 schools have experienced multiple victim homicides, many in communities where people previously believed “it couldn’t happen here.” Given the number of students and schools in the United States, multiple victim homicides are still extremely rare, and in recent years, the overall rate of violence in schools has actually declined. Physical conflicts, threats, and harassment, are however, still common. Many students and teachers are more fearful than ever before when they enter the doors of their schools.” Source: Guide for Preventing and Responding to School Violence. International Association of Chiefs of Police.
School Violence Contingency Planning
Preparations prior to a difficult situation with a student you have concerns about or who has already shown indications of questionable behavior can be detailed. Whirlaway Group's School Violence Prevention Strategies will detail interventions that work to reduce those risks.
Domestic Violence and stalking are growing, serious problems that effect many households and workplaces. Whirlaway Group's President, Linda Watson, has extensive experience in dealing with these volatile situations.
Linda Watson's work as a domestic abuse and sexual assault investigator combined with her training in the science of predicting violent behavior, distinguishes her ability in correctly identifying key escalation points in domestic violence and stalking cases.
How Effective is a Temporary Restraining Order in Preventing Domestic Violence?
The Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) was designed to restrict the abuser from having contact with the victim. A TRO is often issued as a last resort. But many times the effect is adversarial and the threat escalates to violent and dangerous levels.
Stalking
Stalking is a predatory crime driven by the perpetrator's need for power, control, domination, and subjugation. Statistics indicate that spousal stalkers are, as a group, most likely to kill. Many domestic violence situations involve stalking behavior that formed early on and intensified as the relationship grew. Linda Watson's use of threat assessment skills learned from a decade of policing will help identify stalking behaviors evident in a relationship prior to the actual overt violence surfacing.
Common Stalking Behaviors
You must be alert to and document any of the following behaviors exhibited by the stalker:
- Repeated phone calls, including hang-ups
- Tapping or monitoring your phone calls
- Annoying and/or threatening phone calls
- Vandalism of your property (home, car, personal possessions)
- Disabling your car
- Following you or showing up at places you frequent
- Driving by your residence or workplace
- Taking photographs of you or “spying” on you
- Parking in areas you frequent or walk by
- Sending unwanted letters
- Sending “gifts, “ photographs, or mementos
- Taking mail from your mailbox
- Leaving notes on your car or at your home or workplace
- Breaking into your home – moving things or taking items of your personal property
- Contacting your friends, family or co-workers for information
- Telling lies about you to other people
- Using other people or private investigators to obtain information about you
- Violating restraining orders/ stay-away orders
- Reporting you to the authorities for crimes that did not occur
- Actual physical assaults against you or others
- Posting “flyers” about you around your neighborhood or workplace.
