Violence Risk Threat Assessment

Student Violence Threat Risk Assessment (VTRA) 

St. Paul Education is committed to creating and maintaining school environments in which students, staff, parents/guardians/caregivers, and others feel safe. Schools cannot ignore any threat of violence. 

What is a threat? 

A threat is an expression of intent to do harm or act out violently against someone or something. Threats maybe verbal, written, drawn, posted on the Internet, or made by gesture. 

Duty to report 

To keep school communities safe and caring, staff, parents/ guardians/caregivers, students, and community members must report all threat-related behaviours to the school principal. 

What is the purpose of a student threat assessment? 

The purposes of a student threat assessment are: 

• To ensure and promote the emotional and physical safety of students, staff, parents, the student making the threat, and others. 
• To ensure a full understanding of the context of the threat. 
• To understand the factors contributing to the person of concern’s (threat-maker’s) behaviour. 
• To be proactive in developing an intervention plan that addresses the emotional and physical safety of the person of concern. 
• To promote the emotional and physical safety of all.

What behaviours warrant a Student Violence Threat Risk Assessment to be initiated? 

A student threat assessment will be initiated for behaviours including, but not limited to: 

• Verbal/written threats to harm/kill others (“clear, direct, and plausible”) 
• Threats made via social media to harm, kill, or cause serious property damage
• Serious violence or violence with intent to harm and kill 
• Indicators of suicidal ideation as it relates to fluidity(homicidal/suicidal) 
• Weapon possession (including replicas) 
• Bomb threats (or possession/detonation of devices) 
• Hate incidents motivated by factors including, but not limited to: race, culture, religion, and/or sexual orientation 
• Sexual intimidation, sextortion, extortion or assault 
• Domestic, interpersonal, relational violence
• Gang-related intimidation and violence 
• Fire setting (contextual)  

What is a Site-Specific Threat Assessment Team? 

Each school has a Site-Specific Threat Assessment Team. The team may include the principal, teachers, counsellor(s) and a member of the local police agency

What happens in a student threat assessment? 

All threat-making behaviour by a student shall be reported to the Principal who will activate the protocol for the initial response. Once the team has been activated, interviews may be held with the student(s), the person of concern, parents and staff to determine the level of risk and develop an appropriate response to the incident. Intervention plans will be developed and shared with parents, staff and students as required. 

Can I refuse to participate in a threat assessment process? 

It is important for all parties to engage in the process. However, if for some reason there is a reluctance to participate in the process by the person of concern or parent/caregiver, the threat assessment process will continue in order to promote a safe and caring learning environment.

Collection Notice

The personal information is collected under the authority of Section 4(c) of the Alberta Protection of Privacy Act (POPA). The school division will not collect information as part of a threat assessment unless there is a reasonable basis to believe that a risk exists. Information collected as part of a threat assessment may be provided to law enforcement authorities in appropriate circumstances. If you have any questions regarding the collection or use of personal information please contact our Division's Privacy Officer at 780-645-3323.