The 1-2-3 Series · Issue #2
Recognize. Assess. Manage.
Three Strategic Priorities for Identifying Concerning Behavior and Reducing the Risk of Targeted Violence
See the download and subscribe options below
Recognize
Know what to look for, and make reporting easy.
Effective threat management begins with awareness. Employees should recognize concerning behaviors such as threats, escalating grievances, fixation, stalking, intimidation, unusual interest in security measures, or significant behavioral changes.
Employees should be encouraged to recognize, report, and document concerns, not to determine whether someone poses a threat. Trained professionals should evaluate the behavior and determine appropriate next steps.
Assess
Establish a multidisciplinary threat management process
A concerning behavior report begins the assessment process. A multidisciplinary Behavioral Threat Management Team should gather information, evaluate circumstances, and determine the level of concern.
Assessments should consider behaviors, grievances, stressors, escalation, access, protective factors, and other relevant circumstances to understand the situation and determine whether intervention, monitoring, or other risk-management measures are appropriate.
Manage
Intervene early and manage risk over time
Threat assessment has limited value unless it leads to effective management. Once concerns are evaluated, institutions should implement proportionate strategies to reduce escalation, including assistance, security measures, access restrictions, law enforcement coordination, or monitoring.
As circumstances change, cases require continued review. Behavioral threat management is an ongoing process of assessment, intervention, monitoring, and reassessment to manage risk.
Recognize concerning behaviors and report concerns early.
Evaluate concerns with a structured, multidisciplinary process.
Intervene early, monitor change, and manage risk.
Experience Matters…
Developing an effective Behavioral Threat Management program requires more than creating a policy or assembling a team. Our experienced security and threat management professionals help institutions establish appropriate governance, reporting protocols, assessment processes, team training, case-management procedures, and exercises tailored to the institution’s unique environment and culture.
The bottom line…
Behavioral Threat Management provides cultural institutions with a proactive framework for addressing behavior before a situation becomes a crisis.
RECOGNIZE
Educate employees to identify concerning behaviors and provide clear, trusted reporting mechanisms.
ASSESS
Use a trained, multidisciplinary team and structured process to evaluate concerns objectively.
MANAGE
Implement proportionate interventions, monitor changing circumstances, and continually reassess risk.
dbeaver@culturalriskassociates.com . +1 (202) 617-5854
Simple. Practical. Actionable.
Security insights for cultural institutions.
Ready to evaluate your security program?
Cultural Risk Associates partners with cultural institutions and corporate organizations to proactively identify, assess, and mitigate security risks. Contact Doug Beaver, CPP, at at dbeaver@culturalriskassociates.com or 202.617.5854.