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2022 ITAC Agenda

Download 2022 ITAC Agenda (PDF)

Pre-conference:

June 21st 8:00am – 4:00pm

  • Topic: Threat Assessment & Management in Schools: Foundations for Practice Workshop

Dr. Gene Deisinger will present a full day focusing specifically on the Foundations for the practice of threat assessment in schools.  School administrators, staff, mental health professionals, and law enforcement officers are increasingly involved in the assessment and management of persons who engage in threatening and volatile behaviors. Such persons can include current and former students, parents/guardians, teachers, administrators, or other staff; as well as other persons not affiliated with the school. These individuals can be highly disruptive both in school/workplace settings and in the community at large. Their behaviors may range from tactics of bullying and intimidation to stalking and harassment, to acts of violence that devastate a school, workplace, family, or community. Incidents from around the world have underscored the ongoing need for collaborative and integrated strategies to prevent violence where possible and to mitigate the risk of harm where necessary. This workshop will help participants to better understand the dynamics of targeted violence; develop and enhance strategies for early identification, assessment, and intervention with concerning situations; and will provide opportunities to practice application of the principles learned.

This full-day workshop will include training in foundational practices regarding behavioral intervention and threat assessment & management for members of school Threat Assessment Team(s) and key stakeholders. Specific topics for discussion will include (but are not limited to):

  • Understanding guiding principles for threat assessment and management.
  • Key components of effective threat assessment and management approaches.
  • Understanding relevant considerations regarding information sharing.
  • Utilization of holistic and integrated assessment and management strategies.
  • Lessons learned and confirmed from critical incidents.
  • Nexus between threat management and suicide prevention/intervention programs.
  • Contemporary trends related to targeted violence and threat assessment & management.

Participants will also engage in an interactive case scenario to provide opportunities to apply concepts and principles related to the practice and operation of threat assessment and management processes.

Day 1 June 22nd

8:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.

  • Topic: An Unbelievable Story of Rape: Key Note Speakers: Investigator Edna Hendershot & Investigator Stacy Galbraith

2022 ITAC will open with a presentation from Investigator Stacy Galbraith and Capt. Edna Hendershot, the two detectives who worked on the serial rape investigation that inspired the Pulitzer-Prize winning article “An Unbelievable Story of Rape” and the Netflix series “Unbelievable”.

11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.

  • Lunch

12:45 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Topic: Violence and Radicalization: Kurt Braddock, Assistant Professor of Public Communication in the School of Communication at American University

Since 2016, there has been an increased use of inflammatory rhetoric to energize supporters. Much of this rhetoric — while stopping just short of overtly ordering violence — implies support for the use of violence in pursuit of political goals. This talk explores the nature of this phenomenon and proposes a reasoned action framework for understanding how implicit calls to violence can lead to attacks. Specifically, this talk outlines the phenomenon of “stochastic terrorism” and uses the insurrection as an example to illustrate how statements that advocate violence — even in jest or without overt directives — can have deadly consequences.

2:10 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.

  • Topic: Ethics in Threat Management:  Jack Rozel – University of Pittsburg.

Coming Soon!

4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

  • Topic: Lethal Partisanship: Political Extremism and Violence: Philip Saragoza, M.D., Forensic Psychiatrist

This presentation will explore the ongoing intensifying partisan divide in the United States and its influence on a range of concerning behaviors, up through targeted attacks of private citizens and public officials. Dr. Saragoza will describe assessment approaches applicable to a variety of case scenarios, including workplace threat assessment, criminal evaluations and consultation around domestic extremism.

Day 2 June 23rd

8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.

  • Topic: Rigby School Shooting: Sheriff Steve Anderson

This presentation will cover the active shooter incident that occurred on May 6, 2021, in Rigby, Idaho at Rigby Middle School.  Sheriff Anderson will discuss the steps and training that the Sheriff’s Office had in place before and implemented following the incident.

9:45 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.

  • Topic:  Boise Mall Attack: Boise Police Department

This presentation will cover the active shooter incident that occurred on October 25, 2021, at the Boise Towne Square Mall.  Captain Fomby will discuss the pre-incident indicators, event timeline, emergency response, and lessons learned.

11:45 p.m. – 12:45 p.m.

  • Lunch

12:45 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.

  • Topic: Juvenile Subjects in the Planning Stages of Mass Attacks: Maria Martinez & Dr. Nicolas Beliz

How it Starts: TWO CASE PRESENTATIONS OF JUVENILE SUBJECTS IN THE PLANNING STAGES OF A MASS ATTACK

  1. Imitation in Planning for Mass Attacks
  2. Case Example 1
  3. Anniversaries
  4. Diagnostic Considerations
  5. Case Example 2
  6. Personality Traits
  7. Behavioral Indicators

Training Objectives

  • Participants will develop greater situational awareness about targeted school violence.
  • Case studies will provide in depth understanding about shooter dynamics.
  • Participants will learn about strategies designed to stop the path to violence.
  • Participants will be provided with current best practices regarding assessment and response.

3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

  • Topic: K-12 Mental Health Diagnoses in Threat Assessment/ Management: Dr. Rudy Lorber

Through the presentation of multiple Clinical Case Studies, an overview of Mental Health factors relevant to Behavioral Threat Assessment Teams analysis will be presented. Considerations for intervention will be discussed.