NCJ Number
132431
Journal
Security Management Volume: 35 Issue: 9 Dated: (September 1991) Pages: 130,132,134-136
Date Published
1991
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This article presents a step-by-step approach for handling a situation in which an employer receives a report that an employee has discussed committing violence in the workplace.
Abstract
Every company should have a policy which states that any statement that is perceived to be threatening; is made in the presence of any employee; and concerns the company, a contractor, another employee, or the person himself/herself should be reported confidentially to the human resources or security department. When such a statement is reported, the person who reports the statement must be thoroughly interviewed about all aspects of the incident. This interview and any subsequent interviews with other witnesses or informed persons must be kept confidential and be thoroughly documented. Appropriate security must also be provided for the interview room during this period in case the subject discovers that the interviews are being held. The company should consult with a person who specializes in assessing potentially violent employees to determine whether statements by witnesses warrant a further assessment of the subject. A crisis management team consisting of legal counsel, a human resources specialist, and a security specialist should then be formed. This article then describes steps in obtaining background information on the subject, interviewing the subject, providing security during subject interviews, and determining what steps to take after all documentation has been completed.