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Campus Violence. Prevention through intervention. Perspective. Violence on American college campuses is still the exception Statistically among the safest environments in the country Data indicates that a college campus would average 1 shooting every 13,667 years
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Campus Violence Prevention through intervention
Perspective • Violence on American college campuses is still the exception • Statistically among the safest environments in the country • Data indicates that a college campus would average 1 shooting every 13,667 years • Even though unlikely, the severity of consequences require a plan of action.
UC Chose Emergency Planning Model • Preparation • Prevention/Mitigation • Response • Recovery
Preparedness review for UC • UC has a lot of resources • No single coordinated program • An issue at VT • Unofficial, limited cross communication • Another issue at VT
Planning Group • Cross-section of UC community • Recommended focus on prevention as primary method of addressing campus violence • Smaller working group appointed to develop the program
Key Findings from Safe School Initiative • Rarely sudden, impulsive acts • Other people had prior knowledge • Most attackers did not directly threaten their targets prior to the attack. • There is no accurate profile of attacker • Prior to incident most attackers engaged in behavior that caused others to be concerned
Key Findings from Safe School Initiative • Most attackers had difficulty coping with personal failures • Many attackers had been bullied or persecuted by others • Most attackers had access to and used weapons prior to the attack • In many cases, others were involved in the attack to some degree • Duration of attacks were very brief and despite prompt law enforcement response most incidents were over before police arrival on scene
Findings Show Prevention to be a Good Approach • The planning group felt these findings indicate we should focus on prevention • Mitigation, response and recovery need to be part of the plan but prevention should be primary • Early identification of “troubled” students and/or employees and early, positive intervention would be the best approach.
Program Design • Use of existing resources • Three tiered Concept • Coordinated, cross sectional approach
Existing Resources • Faculty members • College staff • Housing Staff • Counseling center • University Health Service • Employee Assistance • Student Code of Conduct • UC Police
Three Tiered Concept • First line intervention • Troubled student/employee committees • Threat Assessment Team
Prevention through Intervention • Early intervention may resolve issues before they reach crisis stage • Counseling • Treatment • Involuntary admission (PES) • Discipline • Arrest and prosecution
Mitigation • Reduce accessibility of targets • Notify campus community of threat • Emergency Alert System • Evacuate – Secure in Place
Response • UC Police are trained in “active shooter” response tactics • Consistent with Cincinnati Police tactics • Mutual Aid Agreement with Cincinnati Police provides additional resources • Interoperability of communication equipment
Recovery • Treatment of victims • Medical and psychological • Accessibility of Region’s only Level 1 trauma center • IUC counselors via mutual aid agreements • Immediate and long term • Return to pre-event operations • Implement Business Continuity Plan