NCJ Number
197308
Journal
Campus Safety Journal Volume: 10 Issue: 9 Dated: September 2002 Pages: 36-37,41
Date Published
September 2002
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This article first examines why schools have not prepared for possible terrorist attacks, describes the type of crisis intervention needed for campuses, and identifies obstacles to campus crisis-intervention planning.
Abstract
There are three possible reasons why schools have not prepared themselves for a terrorist incident: the tendency to view the events of September 11, 2001, as a "one-time thing;" the belief that a school campus is not a likely terrorist target; and schools' habit of using a "reactive" approach to crisis intervention. It is important that schools prepare students and school personnel for the eventuality of a terrorist attack. Obstacles to a primary or preventive approach to crisis intervention may be the discomfort of providing a level of crisis intervention that has long been ignored in America. Entering a new mindset of vulnerability and risk may be difficult as a motivation for crisis-intervention planning. Also, conceptualizing the possibility of destruction and death before it occurs is uncomfortable and disconcerting for many people. Although crisis intervention has gained increasing acceptance on school campuses during the past 15 years, largely due to significant violence perpetrated by students, the level of preparation and intervention must be upgraded considering recent and threatened attacks by terrorist groups. New mindsets, new knowledge, and unprecedented crisis-intervention preparation are warranted for school campuses, given the boldness, unpredictability, and persistence of terrorists in inflicting violence on Americans.