Author: American Military University
By Jon Hager, Faculty Member, Criminal Justice at American Military University
To keep colleges and universities safe, behavioral intervention teams monitor individuals showing potentially dangerous behavior both on-campus and in online classrooms. Intervention teams are tasked with stepping in before an individual takes violent action, but they rely heavily on individuals reporting when someone is exhibiting concerning behavior. But what constitutes concerning behavior?
[Read more about the goals and structure of a behavioral intervention team.]
As a core member of an intervention team, I often get questions from students or colleagues about what behaviors should be reported. I fall back on the old adage and tell them, āIf you hear or see something, say something.ā No matter how insignificant a behavior may appear, itās best to report it and let the intervention team determine the level of threat. In some cases, reports end up being a misunderstanding and are dismissed. But in other cases, a behavior that seems minor may actually be indicative of something more concerning.
Behaviors to Look for on Campus
In a traditional campus setting where individuals interact face to face, there will likely be a range of behaviors that are worth reporting. On the lower end of the spectrum are annoying and disruptive behaviors, which can include someone not understanding personal boundaries, displaying disrespectful conduct, having emotional outbursts, or failing to follow instructions from a professor or authority. While these behaviors alone may not seem threatening, they can often indicate that a person is struggling and/or needs help. Reporting such behavior can initiate a person getting the assistance they need and addressing behavior before it escalates.
A step up from annoying behaviors is concerning behaviors. Concerning behaviors include acts of physical aggression, abuse (emotional, sexual, physical, financial, or psychological), stalking, drug abuse and bullying. If someone mentions or threatens using weapons or violence to resolve a problem or expresses violent fantasies, that should always be reported. Another occasionally overlooked (but equally concerning) behavior is when someone expresses a deep sense of hopelessness. This may indicate they have ānothing to loseā and are headed down the path of engaging in harmful or violent action, whether to themselves or others. These types of concerning behaviors should always be reported to authorities because they are more likely to escalate.
Behaviors to Look for in Online Classes
The same concerning behaviors expressed in a traditional setting should also be reported if expressed in online classes. In the online classroom environment, concerning behaviors would most likely present themselves in discussion forums, which are commonly completed during the first week of class. Students tend to share their feelings more freely in introduction forums, especially in an online-only environment. For example, students may indicate that they are homeless, discuss a recent death of a family member, express distress, or express frustration as a result of mental illness (common among current/former U.S. military members). The professor should carefully read each introduction forum to identify any potential concerns.
Additionally, concerning behaviors may be displayed via email. A student may email a professor telling him or her about some form of abuse occurring at home that is preventing the student from completing work in a timely manner. When information of this nature is shared in an educational setting, faculty is legally mandated to share the information with authorities (i.e., the intervention team). Faculty should explicitly tell the student that they are obligated to forward the information provided to the appropriate staff.
How to Report Concerning Behaviors
Reports of concern are usually completed online through a collegeās website. Online reporting systems are convenient and allow the complainant and/or victim to remain anonymous. Some universities and colleges also have an anonymous tip line where reports can be made over the phone or text message. These reporting mechanisms should be easily accessible and well-advertised on the universityās homepage, in classrooms, and student gathering areas.
When educating the college or university community about reporting concerning behavior, individuals should be instructed to provide as many details as possible in the complaint. Accurate, detailed reporting provides a narrative of the circumstances surrounding each case. When possible, the reporter should submit screenshots or pictures with the complaint for further evidence.
Once a complaint is submitted, it is immediately sent to the chair or to a designated member of the intervention team. From this point, an assessment is made regarding the behavior. Not all concerning behaviors are resolved through the intervention team. Depending on the severity, some cases are referred to other areas of the college such as student affairs, academic affairs, counseling, or the police department. The university or college should have a very clear process for addressing the complaint, following-up with the reporter, and documenting all information presented.
About the Author
Jon Hager has worked in the criminal justice field since 2000 in the capacity of private fire investigations, autopsy technician, and as a medical examiner investigator and a forensic science professor. Jon obtained a B.S. in anthropology from Hamline University, a M.S. in forensic science from the University of New Haven and a doctorate in psychology with a concentration in criminal justice from the University of the Rockies. Jon is currently an adjunct professor of criminal justice at American Military University. To contact the author, email IPSauthor@apus.edu. For more articles featuring insight from industry experts, subscribe to In Public Safetyās bi-monthly newsletter.
