Reducing Gun Violence in Schools:
Recommendations for Prevention

Violence is not a single problem amenable to a single solution; all violent youth do not conform to the same profile. Moreover, contextual and situational must always be considered. A comprehensive approach to gun violence prevention must address factors in the individual, the family, and the community.

Immediate Actions at School

Talk to students about gun violence.

Acknowledge youth violence as a serious, but preventable problem.

Explain school policies and safety procedures.

Obtain student input on their safety concerns.

Encourage students to report threats of violence.

Identify youth who might be at risk for gun violence at school:

Students who threaten others or hint about violence.

Students with a history of carrying guns, fighting, destroying property, or cruelty to animals.

Students who are preoccupied with violent fantasies, movies, games, and music.

Students, including suicidal students, who feel rejected, humiliated, bullied, or mistreated.

Take all threats seriously. Evaluate threatening students using threat assessment principles recommended by the FBI, Secret Service, and U.S. Department of Education. For further information see information on our threat assessment guidelines and threat assessment training.

Assess the student's intentions and plans, mental state and motivation.

Review the student's recent stresses and history of violence.

Consult with other professionals, including law enforcement, and if necessary, take reasonable steps to protect potential victims.

Develop a plan of action, including non-violence contracts, parent consultation, and follow-up services.

Long-Term Strategies

What schools can do.

Review and maintain clear written policies on school discipline, building security, and crisis response. Enforce school discipline and security policies. Work to maintain a climate of respect for authority and concern for others.

Initiate school-wide programs starting in the elementary grades to teach students social competence skills and peaceful methods of resolving conflict. Implement programs to identify and stop bullying.

Promote student involvement in projects, organizations, and activities which emphasize non-violence, personal responsibility, and service to others.

Encourage troubled students to seek help. Use school psychologists and counselors to work with troubled, at-risk students and coordinate efforts with community services.

Establish a threat assessment team at each school, so that student threats of violence can be carefully evaluated and threats can be resolved before violence occurs. For more information on threat assessment training (link).

What parents can do.

Talk to your children about their problems, fears, and concerns. Take them seriously and give them your support. If your child reports concerns about a classmate, convey those concerns to the school.

Supervise your children. Know where they are and what they are doing.

Lock up your guns and ammunition. Talk about gun violence with your children.

Limit your children's exposure to media violence as a form of entertainment. Discuss with them how media violence desensitizes us to violence and portrays violence unrealistically as a glamorous and effective solution to problems.

Educate your children in moral values and principles, including personal responsibility and respect for others.

When in doubt about your child's behavior, consult with school or community professionals.

What community agencies and law enforcement can do.

Work collaboratively with schools to provide them with well-trained school resource officers. Make sure that a law enforcement officer is a member of each school’s threat assessment team.

Expect and encourage schools to assist in enforcement of laws against violence, weapon-carrying, and use of drugs and alcohol.

Vigorously enforce gun laws and conduct campaigns to get guns off the streets and out of the hands of juveniles.

Support after-school programs, supervised recreation, youth employment, and community service activities. Establish mentoring as a standard program component.

Provide comprehensive family services programs, including Head Start, multisystemic family therapy, and parent education.

Assessment of a Potentially Violent Youth

Assessments should be conducted by a qualified mental health professional. These suggestions are not intended to substitute for a comprehensive evaluation. We have more complete guidelines and training on threat assessment available

Identify all potentially relevant sources of information.

Youth self-report.

Parent interview.

Potential victim.

Other as appropriate (peers, law enforcement, professionals).

Assess youth's intent.

Has youth made verbal threats?

Has youth been aggressive toward victim?

Is there a plan? Available weapon?

Does the youth identify contingencies that would provoke him or her to act?

Review present stress.

Has there been recent provocation or conflict?

Any extraneous stresses or life changes?

Any anticipated negative events?

Assess mental state.

Anger, injustice, overcontrolled hostility?

Depression, hopelessness, despair?

Psychotic or distorted thinking?

Check personal risk factors.

Victim of bullying or threats.

Past aggression toward others.

Aggressive role models.

Fantasy involvement with violence through games, movies, books, etc.

Assess delinquent behavior.

Past suspension or expulsion.

Arrests, trouble with the police.

Substance abuse.

Assess coping ability.

Is youth willing to communicate with you when stressed?

Can youth engage in a non-violent coping plan?

Can you elicit youth empathy for victims?

Take appropriate action.

Can you elicit youth concern for legal and personal consequences?

Consult with other professionals about your findings and conclusions.

Document your process, conclusions, and actions with timely notes.

Take appropriate precautions, including warning potential victims, notifying relevant parties (law enforcement, parents, school personnel

and others as appropriate to the situation).

Follow up on treatment recommendations and referrals.

Professional responsibility continues after the assessment.