Assessing Potentially Violent Students. ERIC Digest

Although student school shootings of students have recently gained significant national attention, more routine forms of student violence (e.g. homicide, rape, aggravated assault, etc.) continue to plague our nation's schools and streets. These less sensational but equally harmful violent behaviors warrant appropriate response. This digest describes the importance of assessment and diagnosis with potentially violent and violent students. Students with the potential for violence usually present a number of common risk factors. These risks are: violent drawings or writings, threats of violence towards others; past violent behaviors or aggressive history; animal torturing; recent relationship break; isolation; teased or perceptions of being teased, harassed, or "picked on;" inappropriate use or access to firearms; substance abuse; familial stressors; noted by peers as being "different;" and low school interest. The 13 risk factors will not identify every violent students, but they can be readily used by school counselors and other mental health professionals as an aid in assessing students at risk of violence. (Contains 5 references.) (MKA)