Prior Knowledge of Potential School-Based Violence: Information Students Learn May Prevent a Targeted Attack

This paper serves as a follow-up to the Safe School Initiative (SSI), which looked at targeted school violence and found that prior to most incidents, other people knew about the attacker’s idea and/or plan to attack. Further exploring planned school violence prevention, this study investigated how students with prior knowledge of attacks make decisions regarding reporting. The paper outlines possible barriers that may prevent bystanders who have information about a potential incident from reporting.