A Comparative Analysis of Threat and Risk Assessment Measures
Brian Van Brunt · The Journal of Campus Behavioral Intervention · 2013
This study reviews four approaches to risk and threat assessment applied to three case studies involving college students.The approaches include the Workplace Assessment of Violence Risk (WAVR--21), The Structured Interview of Violence Risk Assessment (SIVRA--35), the NaBITA Threat Assessment Tool, and History, Clinical, Risk (HCR--20) version 3.While differences are explored and discussed throughout the study, the overall similarity among the various tools identifying each of the cases consistently into low, moderate, and high--risk categories is encouraging.The results are graphically shown below.Case 1 John Others are Concerned, Losses Recent or Impending, Entitlement and Negative Attitudes, Noncompliance or Menacing Behaviors, Capacity and Actions Preparatory for Violence, Extreme Moods, Real Provocations or Destabilizers, Irrational Thinking, Substance Abuse, Known History of Violence, Criminality, or Conflict.The more detailed coding grid addresses 21 dynamic or static risk factors.These include: 1) Motives for Violence; 2) Homicidal Ideas, Violent Fantasies or Preoccupation; 3) Violent Intentions and Expressed Threats; 4) Weapons Skills and Access; 5) Pre--Attack Planning and Access; 6) Stalking or Menacing Behavior; 7) Current Job Problems; 8) Extreme Job Attachment; 9) Loss, Personal Stressors, and Negative Coping; 10) Entitlement and Other Negative Traits; 11) Lack of Conscience and Irresponsibility; 12) Anger Problems; 13) Depression and Suicidality; 14) Paranoia and Other Psychotic Symptoms; 15) Substance Abuse; 16) Isolation; 17) History of Violence, Criminality, Conflict; 18) Domestic/Intimate Partner Violence; 19) Situational and Organizational Contributors to Violence; 20) Stabilizers and Buffers Against Violence; 21) Organizational Impact of Real or Perceived Threat.Items on the WAVR--21 are scored as either being absent, present or prominent.An additional scoring of "not enough information" is also included.For each item, the assessor can also indicate a decrease ( or >>) or static (o).Using the WAVR--21 requires participation in the WAVR--21 eight--hour trainings, a clinical expertise and knowledge of the threat assessment literature base, knowledge of risk management principles, and compliance with local and federal laws relevant to conducting workplace violence risk assessments.For the purpose of this study, a discussion of both the short form and coding grid will be included for each of the three case studies. SIVRA--35The SIVRA--35 is an informal, structured set of items useful for those staff and faculty who work in higher education to use with individuals who may pose a risk or threat to the community.The SIVRA--35 is not designed as a psychological test and it is not designed to assess suicidal students.It is a guided structured interview useful for classifying risk into low, moderate, and