Lessons Learned From School Shootings: Perspectives from the United States of America (SpringerBriefs in Behavioral Criminology)

Acknowledgments Contents About the Authors Chapter 1: School Shootings: An Overview 1.1 Personal Perspectives: Introductions 1.2 School Shootings Defined 1.3 School Shootings Research 1.4 History of School Shootings 1.4.1 Dispelling the Myths of School Shootings 1.4.2 Media Exposure 1.5 Conclusion References Chapter 2: School Shooters and Shootings 2.1 School Shooting Contexts 2.1.1 School Types 2.1.2 School Size 2.1.3 School Location 2.1.4 School Funding Source 2.2 School Shooter Common Characteristics 2.2.1 Langman’s Typologies 2.2.2 Additional Common Characteristics 2.3 Contributing Factors to School Shootings: Biological, Psychological, Social 2.3.1 Biological 2.3.2 Psychological 2.3.3 Social 2.4 Conclusion References Chapter 3: Best Practices for School Safety to Prevent School Shootings 3.1 School Safety Efforts 3.1.1 Security Measures 3.1.2 Arming Teachers 3.1.3 School Resource Officers (SROs) 3.1.4 Active Shooter Drills 3.2 Threat Assessment 3.3 Responding to a School Shooting: Crisis Intervention 3.4 Best Practices for Prevention 3.4.1 School Safety Planning 3.4.2 School Climate 3.4.3 Socio-emotional Well-Being 3.4.4 Adequate Mental Health Support 3.4.5 School Safety Programs 3.5 Conclusion References Chapter 4: Legal Issues in the Context of School Shootings 4.1 Legislative Responses 4.1.1 Firearms 4.1.2 Mental Health Legislation 4.2 Other Relevant Legal Issues 4.2.1 Juveniles and Sentencing 4.2.2 Liability 4.3 Conclusion References Chapter 5: Key Recommendations, Final Thoughts, and Future Directions 5.1 Key Recommendations 5.1.1 Prevention 5.1.2 Aftermath of School Shootings 5.1.3 Media Exposure 5.1.4 Firearm Access 5.2 Future Directions 5.3 Resources References Index This brief investigates school shootings and their impact on individual, community, and societal levels. It includes professional and personal perspectives from individuals directly involved in and impacted by school shootings. These novel perspectives will help inform best practices necessary to strengthen school safety measures, as well as prevention and response efforts. This brief will serve as helpful guide to mental health professionals, school administrators, psychology students and educators, law enforcement, and threat management and crisis response teams, aiding in better understanding of the many factors surrounding school shootings.