Detecting the Potential for Violence

This article presents an assessment that helps professionals detect the potential for violence. The assessment is balanced and looks at both risks and protective factors. Rather than having a zero tolerance policy where a single risk can get a child expelled, this assessment looks at the whole child, especially the factors that show the child is at low risk to act out in violent ways. Children, young people and adults who have good relationships with prosocial people, can regulate their emotions and behaviors, and who have beliefs that promote the well-being of others and the self are at relatively low risk. Persons who have poor relationships with others, have difficulty managing their emotions and actions, and who have beliefs that violence solves problems are at high risk.