23-9.2:10 - Violence prevention committee; threat assessment team
§ 23-9.2:10. Violence prevention committee; threat assessment team.
A. Each public college or university shall have in place policies andprocedures for the prevention of violence on campus, including assessment andintervention with individuals whose behavior poses a threat to the safety ofthe campus community.
B. The board of visitors or other governing body of each public institutionof higher education shall determine a committee structure on campus ofindividuals charged with education and prevention of violence on campus. Eachcommittee shall include representatives from student affairs, lawenforcement, human resources, counseling services, residence life, and otherconstituencies as needed. Such committee shall also consult with legalcounsel as needed. Once formed, each committee shall develop a clearstatement of: (i) mission, (ii) membership, and (iii) leadership. Suchstatement shall be published and available to the campus community.
C. Each committee shall be charged with: (i) providing guidance to students,faculty, and staff regarding recognition of threatening or aberrant behaviorthat may represent a threat to the community; (ii) identification of membersof the campus community to whom threatening behavior should be reported; and(iii) policies and procedures for the assessment of individuals whosebehavior may present a threat, appropriate means of intervention with suchindividuals, and sufficient means of action, including interim suspension ormedical separation to resolve potential threats.
D. The board of visitors or other governing body of each public institutionof higher education shall establish a specific threat assessment team thatshall include members from law enforcement, mental health professionals,representatives of student affairs and human resources, and, if available,college or university counsel. Such team shall implement the assessment,intervention and action policies set forth by the committee pursuant tosubsection C.
E. Each threat assessment team shall establish relationships or utilizeexisting relationships with local and state law-enforcement agencies as wellas mental health agencies to expedite assessment and intervention withindividuals whose behavior may present a threat to safety. Upon a preliminarydetermination that an individual poses a threat of violence to self orothers, or exhibits significantly disruptive behavior or need for assistance,a threat assessment team may obtain criminal history record information, asprovided in §§ 19.2-389 and 19.2-389.1, and health records, as provided in §32.1-127.1:03. No member of a threat assessment team shall redisclose anycriminal history record information or health information obtained pursuantto this section or otherwise use any record of an individual beyond thepurpose for which such disclosure was made to the threat assessment team.
(2008, cc. 450, 533; 2010, cc. 456, 524.)