Behavioral Intervention

Purpose:

Reynolds Community College is committed to maintaining a safe, secure, and supportive environment for all members of the campus community. In accordance with Virginia Code § 23.1-805, this policy establishes the College's Threat Assessment Team (TAT) and defines its role within the College's comprehensive violence prevention framework.

The Threat Assessment Team operates under the oversight of the Violence Prevention Committee (VPC), which is responsible for institutional violence prevention policy, standards, coordination, and prevention strategy. This policy establishes the framework for the identification, assessment, intervention, and management of behaviors that may pose a threat to the safety and well-being of the campus community.

This policy is behavior-based and is not intended to restrict protected speech, academic freedom, or lawful expression.

Scope: This policy applies to all students; all employees; contractors, volunteers, and visitors; and all College locations, online environments, and College-sponsored activities.

Definitions:

Concerning Behavior: Behavior that suggests a possible risk of harm to self or others, significant disruption, or escalating safety concerns.

Threat: Any communication, act, or behavior indicating intent to cause harm to self, others, or property.

Imminent Threat: A situation involving an immediate and substantial risk of serious harm requiring emergency response.

Threat Assessment Team (TAT): A multidisciplinary operational team responsible for receiving reports, conducting behavioral threat assessments, coordinating interventions, and managing case responses involving threatening or concerning behavior.

Violence Prevention Committee (VPC): The College's policy and oversight body responsible for violence prevention policy, institutional coordination, education, and compliance oversight.

Interim Measures: Temporary actions implemented to reduce risk and maintain safety while assessment, review, or intervention is ongoing.

Risk Levels: Institutional classifications used to assess level of concern and response priority, including Low, Moderate, Elevated, and Critical.

Policy:

Reynolds Community College maintains a Threat Assessment Team responsible for the identification, assessment, intervention, and management of individuals whose behavior may pose a threat to the safety and well-being of the campus community.

The TAT operates within the College's violence prevention framework under the oversight and policy authority of the Violence Prevention Committee.

The College prohibits violence, threats, intimidation, stalking, harassment, or other behavior that creates a safety risk to the campus community.

1. Governance Structure

   Violence Prevention Committee (VPC). The VPC is the College's policy and oversight body responsible for:

   • Establishing violence prevention policies and institutional frameworks
   • Overseeing prevention education, awareness, and training initiatives
   • Reviewing institutional threat assessment trends and recommendations
   • Supporting compliance with Virginia Code § 23.1-805
   • Providing oversight and guidance to the Threat Assessment Team

   Threat Assessment Team (TAT). The Threat Assessment Team serves as the College's operational response body and is responsible for:

   • Receiving and reviewing reports of concerning behavior
   • Conducting behavioral threat assessments
   • Coordinating intervention and safety measures
   • Managing case monitoring and follow-up
   • Coordinating referrals, support services, and institutional response actions

   The TAT implements procedures established under the policy authority of the VPC.

2. Team Composition

   The TAT shall include representatives from appropriate functional areas, including:

   • Dean of Students or designee
   • Campus Police/Public Safety
   • Human Resources
   • Student Conduct
   • Licensed mental health professional, as needed
   • Legal counsel, as needed
   • Additional College representatives, as appropriate

   The College may adjust membership as necessary to support effective threat assessment and case management.

3. Guiding Principles

   Threat assessment and intervention activities shall be guided by the following principles:

   • Behavior, not identity or protected status, informs assessment
   • Safety and well-being of the campus community are primary considerations
   • Interventions should be evidence-based and multidisciplinary
   • The least restrictive reasonable intervention should be used whenever possible
   • Processes should support equity, fairness, and bias mitigation
   • Information shall be shared only on a legitimate educational or safety-related need-to-know basis

4. Reporting Requirements

   All employees are required to promptly report behavior that may indicate:

   • Threats or acts of violence
   • Self-harm or suicide risk
   • Stalking, intimidation, or harassment
   • Escalating or disruptive concerning behavior
   • Credible threats or significant safety concerns

   Reports must be submitted through designated College reporting channels in accordance with College procedures.

5. Authority

   The TAT is authorized to:

   • Conduct behavioral threat assessments
   • Assess level of concern and risk
   • Coordinate institutional response and intervention efforts
   • Recommend or implement interim safety measures, consistent with applicable policy and law
   • Request and review relevant information and records in accordance with applicable law
   • Coordinate with law enforcement, mental health providers, and support services, as appropriate

   The TAT does not serve as a disciplinary body. Disciplinary and employment actions are implemented through applicable college procedures and administrative processes.

6. Confidentiality

   Information related to threat assessment activities shall be handled in accordance with applicable federal and state laws, including:

   • The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
   • The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), where applicable
   • Virginia law
   • Applicable College policies and procedures

   Information shall be shared only with individuals who have a legitimate need to know in order to protect safety, coordinate support, or carry out institutional responsibilities.

7. Training

   Threat Assessment Team members shall complete:

   • A minimum of eight hours of initial training within 12 months of appointment
   • At least two hours of annual refresher training thereafter
   • Additional scenario-based or operational training, as appropriate

   Training shall be provided through the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) or another approved provider consistent with institutional requirements.

8. Policy Review

   This policy shall be reviewed at least every two years or as required by changes in law, regulation, or institutional structure. Revisions require administrative approval and alignment with the College's VPC framework.

Procedures:

Procedure for Reynolds Policy 1-22, Behavioral Intervention

Other Information:

Code of Virginia § 23.1-805, Violence prevention committee; threat assessment team

Reynolds Policy 1-28, Violence Prevention Committee

Reynolds Policy 1-35, Student Conduct

Reynolds Policy 4-17, Title IX - Sexual Misconduct

Reynolds Policy 4-04, Weapons

Virginia Community College System (VCCS) and Department of Human Resource Management (DHRM) applicable employment policy

FERPA and other applicable federal and state confidentiality laws