Claremont McKenna College has been selected to offer a special workshop on Threat Assessment in Schools from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, July 10 in Pickford Auditorium, Bauer Center. The program, called the Safe School Initiative (SSI), was created by the United States Secret Service in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Education, and is designed to help schools assess potential "warning signs" about students and others who may carry out violent acts.
The workshop will educate participants about the findings of the SSI study launched by the Secret Service, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Education a study that examined a total of 37 school shootings in the United States from 1974 through the end of the 2000 school year, and involving 41 student attackers. (For more information: http://www.secretservice.gov/ntac.shtml, scroll down to the SSI.) The focus of the study was developing information about the school shooters' pre-attack behaviors and communications, with the goal of identifying information about school shootings that may help prevent future school-based attacks.
Although the program was originally created for a K-12 school audience, the Secret Service has presented findings at colleges and universities as well.
CMC will host presenters from the U.S. Secret Service and the Claremont Police Department. The event begins with an 8:30 a.m. check-in, followed by the workshop. Participants each will receive booklets and an interactive CD-ROM that may be shared with colleagues.
Other participants are expected to include representatives from colleges and universities across Southern California, law enforcement officials, mental health professionals, and administrators from local K-12 schools.
Those who wish to participate are encouraged to contact the Dean of Students office in advance to better anticipate attendance: 909-621-8114.