CONCEPT Continuing & Professional Studies, Palo Alto University

This self-paced training program on Introduction Violence Risk/Threat Assessment and Management in Police and Public Safety Psychology is presented by Stephen D. Hart, PhD.

Violence risk is a critical issue in policing and public safety psychology. In operational contexts, the concern is violence risk posed by persons of interest who are under investigation or who have been arrested for, charged with, or convicted of offenses. In organizational contexts, the concern is the violence risk posed toward police and public safety professionals by persons of interest, or even the violence risk posed by those professionals toward coworkers or members of the public. Regardless, the key question what kinds of harm might someone perpetrate, against which victims, at which times or locations – and, most importantly, what steps could be taken to mitigate the risks posed and prevent violence?

Dr. Hart provides an overview of violence risk assessment and management, also known as threat assessment and management, including key concepts and general principles. He also describes and differentiates two types of assessment: triage, a rapid sorting and prioritization of cases to identify those in need of immediate attention; and comprehensive violence risk assessment, an evaluation to develop more detailed, long-term management plans. Finally, he discusses the steps necessary to support best practices in violence risk/threat assessment and management in policing and public safety psychology, including education, training, policies, and procedures. Throughout this course, Dr. Hart illustrates important points using case vignettes from his 35 years of experience working with law enforcement, corrections, national security, and other public safety professionals.