University Department of Public Safety

The Threat Assessment & Management Partnership is a multi-disciplinary team whose goal is to identify and de-escalate individuals who are at risk of committing targeted violence. TAMP is comprised of both subject matter experts and those with the decision-making authority to respond to troubling situations that may escalate toward violence.

When a behavioral concern is referred to TAMP, the team will:

• Triage the referral and gather additional information about the situation.
• Assess risk factors and behaviors that indicate if the individual poses a threat, using empirically validated assessment tools combined with professional judgement.
• Provide campus partners with guidance and behavioral intervention strategies to reduce and manage the risk posed by the individual(s).
• Develop a safety plan for the impacted individual(s), when needed.
• Repeat this process until the behavior de-escalates or the situation is resolved.

If you have questions about the TAMP process, please email tamp@utah.edu.

Targeted violence is an act of violence that is pre-meditated, predatory, and directed at a specific individual, group, or location. This differs from other acts of violence that are spontaneous, impulsive, random.¹  

Examples of targeted violence can include active aggressor situations (i.e. school or workplace shootings), stalking and harassment, sexual assault, hate crimes, bombings, or extremist activity. Individuals who engage in targeted violence often have a specific grievance toward an individual, community or institution, or they may use violence as a way to make a political or ideological statement.

¹SchoolSafety.gov – Targeted Violence

All emergency situations, immediate safety concerns, or potential criminal activity should be reported directly to University Police.
Call 911 or University Police at 801-585-2677.

If an individual is exhibiting concerning behaviors that may indicate a risk of future violence, but is not an immediate safety threat, you have several reporting options.

If the individual is a student.

• Submit a referral to the Behavioral Intervention Team (BIT) in the Office of the Dean of Students. The BIT works closely with TAMP if a student’s behaviors are escalating or indicate a risk of future violence. If so, BIT will engage TAMP to conduct a threat assessment.
• You should also report any incident that involves discrimination, harassment, or sexual misconduct to the Office of Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action, and Title IX.

If the individual is a faculty member, University employee, or a visitor on campus:

• If the individual is a faculty member, contact the Office for Faculty - Academic Affairs or the Office for Faculty – Health Sciences. If the individual is an employee, contact Human Resources.  These entities can review the situation and engage TAMP to conduct a threat assessment.  You may also submit a referral directly to TAMP.
• Incidents involving campus visitors or those unaffiliated with the University of Utah should be reported directly to TAMP.
• You should also report any incident that involves discrimination, harassment, or sexual misconduct to the Office of Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action, and Title IX.

If the individual of concern is a patient or visitor within the Health Sciences system.

• Refer the incident to the Health Science’s Behavioral Intervention Team (BIT). The Health Sciences BIT works closely with TAMP to determine if an individual’s behaviors are escalating or indicate a risk of future violence. If so, the BIT will engage TAMP to conduct a threat assessment.
• You should also report any incident that involves discrimination, harassment, or sexual misconduct to the Office of Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action, and Title IX.

Referrals submitted via the TAMP online portal are reviewed Monday - Friday during regular business hours. Referrals submitted after hours, on weekends, or on holidays will be reviewed the next business day.

• Actual or implied threats to harm other individuals, specific communities, or property/buildings
• Stalking, surveillance, or unwanted contact with another individual
• Harassing or intimidating behaviors
• Concerning social media posts, emails, or phone messages
• Communicating an intent to harm others
• Inappropriate interest in weapons or referencing acts of violence
• Any behavior or situation that makes you fear for your safety or the safety of others

All emergency situations, immediate safety concerns, or potential criminal activity should be reported directly to University Police.
Call 911 or University Police at 801-585-2677.

We rely on our community to recognize and report concerning behaviors so we can prevent targeted violence on our campus.  Anyone can make a referral - whether you're a faculty member, employee, student, visitor, or alumni.

Research and best practice specify that successful threat assessment and management is contingent on a multi-disciplinary, coordinated approach. As such, TAMP is comprised of subject matter experts and those with the decision-making authority to assess and respond to potential threats, including representatives from:

• Department of Public Safety
• University of Utah Police
• Student Affairs (Behavioral Intervention Team)
• Health Sciences (Behavioral Intervention Team)
• Human Resources
• Office for Faculty - Academic Affairs and Health Sciences
• Office of Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action, & Title IX
• Huntsman Mental Health Institute
• Office of General Counsel
• Additional campus partners as dictated by the nature of the situation

TAMP is not intended to replace normal University grievance protocols, pre-existing responses, or law-enforcement. Rather, it is designed to complement these efforts by expediting reports of concerning behaviors, objectively assessing safety and risk issues, and coordinating with campus partners to provide appropriate behavioral interventions.