Threats of Workplace Violence: The Mental Health Professional's Place on the Law Enforcement and Security Team

• NCJ Number: 174864
• Journal: Police Chief Volume: 64 Issue: 3 Dated: March 1997 Pages: 39-46
• Author(s): E Shaw; J Post
• Date Published: 1997
• Length: 8 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This article discusses potential roles for mental health professionals in key aspects of threat assessment and case management.

Abstract

In contrast to the traditional consultant's role, which is often limited to assessment of psychopathology or dangerousness, this article argues for a more active and investigatory case management partnership with law enforcement and security personnel. The threat assessment and case management process can be divided into data collection, data analysis and case management implementation. Mental health professionals' contribution to data collection could include reviewing existing documents, using research to increase information's impact, fully exploiting human sources and conducting contact and worksite interviews. A case management interdisciplinary team can estimate the level and type of threat present, identify potential "triggers," design information and monitoring strategies, design contingency plans and interventions and plan and implement termination. Notes