Risk factors for school violence
( 2002-01-17 10:46 ) (7 )

The Federal Bureau of Investigation compiled this list of risk factors in its two-year study of school shootings, which was completed in September 2000:

Questions for educators to ask about a troubled child

* What is the culture of the school and how is it affecting the child?

* Does he or she have problems expressing anger?

* Does he or she show an inordinate fascination with violent movies, books and music?

* Has he talked or written about committing violent acts?

Other traits listed

* Poor coping skills

* Access to weapons

* Signs of depression

* Drug and alcohol abuse

* Alienation

* Narcissism

* Inappropriate humor

* No limits to, or monitoring of, television and Internet use

The report also classifies levels and types of threats. Direct threats are clear: "I am going to place a bomb in the school's gym." Medium-level threats indicate possible place and time; high-level threats indicate practice with a weapon or surveillance of a victim.