Dr. Mark Brenzinger presentation to ATAP.

1. Beyond Awareness
ACTIONS IN THREAT AND VIOLENCE RISK MANAGEMENT
February 2018
ATAP DALLAS/FORT WORTH AND HOUSTON FEBRUARY CHAPTER MEETINGS
PART 4
The Role of a Clinical Psychologist
in Threat Assessment

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AGENDA FOR PART 4
• Fitness for Duty Evaluation
• Indirect vs. Direct
• Direct Violence Risk Evaluation
• WAVR-21
• Case Management
• Safe Terminations or Return to Work Plan

3. 3 HILLARD HEINTZE © 2018 | Protecting What Matters®
PART 4
The Role of a Clinical Psychologist in
Threat Assessment
• Fitness for Duty Evaluation
• Indirect vs. Direct
• Direct Violence Risk Evaluation
• WAVR-21
• Case Management
• Safe Terminations or Return to Work Plan

4. FITNESS FOR DUTY EVALUATION
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• Essential job duties vs. violence risk
• Typically involves a sudden decline
in performance, attendance, attitude
and/or behavior
• In rare instances, combination referral is possible
Examples
• Excessive anger + High voltage line repairman
• Recent justified triple homicide / PTSD / paranoia + factory worker

5. INDIRECT THREAT ASSESSMENT VS. DIRECT VIOLENCE RISK EVALUATION
The primary difference
The ability to make direct contact with
and evaluate the subject of interest.
The core process is the same for both.
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INDIRECT THREAT ASSESSMENT VS. DIRECT VIOLENCE RISK EVALUATION
Dealing with internal or external
subjects of concern requires the
same process
• Identify the context of the concerning behavior
• Assess the risk potential for targeted violence
• Create a case management plan

7. INDIRECT THREAT ASSESSMENT VS. DIRECT VIOLENCE RISK EVALUATION
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Direct
Current employee
Indirect
Former employee or their partner
Current or past customer
Other third-party vendor

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DIRECT VIOLENCE RISK EVALUATION
Context
• Records
• Collateral interviews
• Structured professional guides
Workplace Assessment for Violence Risk (WAVR-21)
Stalking Assessment Management (SAM)
Terrorist Radicalization Assessment Protocol (TRAP-18)

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DIRECT VIOLENCE RISK EVALUATION
In-person evaluation
• Consent form for employer
• Authorization for Release of Information –
medical/mental health professionals
• Discretionary psychological testing and
interview
• Hypothetical discussions, ranging from
return to work plan to termination
• Convergence of data to arrive at risk level
• Provide recommendations and safety planning
Precautions must
be taken even if
termination or
separation has
been decided.

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WAVR-21 – A SCIENTIFICALLY BASED TOOL
Identifying known risk and protective factors
• Helps organize case data
• Aids screening and assessment
• Assists with decision-making
• Works with either Direct or Indirect Violence Risk Cases
• Used in the workplace and college campus settings
• Developed by Drs. Stephen White and Reid Meloy

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How the WAVR helps threat management teams
• Provides a standardized starting point
• Keeps the TMT focused on risk-relevant information
• Provides sound rationale for current and future decisions that need
to be made to manage the concern
• Addresses the dynamics of an open case
• Screening - Assessment - Management – Monitoring
Bridges the gap between research and practice by providing a
practical tool for casework “in the trenches.”
WAVR-21 – A SCIENTIFICALLY BASED TOOL

12. CASE MANAGEMENT
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Range of intervention strategies

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SAFE TERMINATION OR RETURN TO WORK PLAN
Safe termination protocol
• Develop "termination
folder"
Paycheck distribution
details
Medical benefits
Contact information
for outsourcing benefit
Reference check
explanation
• Involve termination team –
Human Resources and Manager
• Conduct in safe office location
• Alert local law enforcement,
stage armed private security
resources
• Consider severance and
exit package

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SAFE TERMINATION OR RETURN TO WORK PLAN
Return to work plan
• Understand WVP
policies – get signature
of acknowledgement
• Support any ongoing
mental health
interventions or provide
EAP information
• Likely to be placed on a
performance improvement plan
• Ongoing periodic monitoring
(new employee probation)
• Involves immediate corrective
action and periodic praise
• Address any workgroup dynamics
(“clear the air”)

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Matthew Doherty
Senior Vice President, Threat + Violence Risk Management
matthew.doherty@hillardheintze.com
JoAnn Ugolini
Director, Threat + Violence Risk Management
joann.ugolini@hillardheintze.com
Mark Brenzinger, Psy.D.
Vice President, Forensic and Clinical Psychologist,
Threat + Violence Risk Management
mark.brenzinger@hillardheintze.com