Student Perpetrators of School Violence—Brief Facts and Tips

Acts of violence at school, especially school shootings that involve fatalities, are perhaps the most potentially traumatic crises that schools can experience. How school communities process and respond to such violence can be influenced by whether the perpetrator was a stranger, a known adult, or a former or current student. Below are some considerations that go beyond standard crisis response and recovery interventions and procedures that may be helpful when the perpetrator is a current student at the school. One of the most challenging aspects of student perpetrated school violence is the impact the incident can have on perceptions of safety and security at school. Students may begin to question the ability of the adults to keep them safe, as well as the potential for violence from their other peers. Helpful strategies include: a. Have increased security and adult presence at the school in the days and weeks after the crisis. b. Ensure that there are safe and anonymous ways for students to report threats, concerns, and information they have regarding potential violence and ensuring that students are aware of these procedures. Fear of retribution can prevent som