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Categories of Concern Glossary

The following Categories of Concern are utilized for Critical Incidents/Case Consultation, Worrisome Online Behavior™ (WOB) Reports, erase Report It Tips, and PSST Tips.

Bullying/Cyberbullying:
  • Repeated targeted behavior directed towards a particular individual.
 
Firearms:
  • Possession of objects that appear similar to a firearm.
  • Possession of firearm(s) and/or replica firearm(s).
 
Gang-Associated Behavior:
  • Distribution of drugs.
  • Possession of large amounts of cash/drugs, flaunting expensive items.
  • Aligning themselves with a gang/negative peer group.
    • Displaying gang signs and wearing gang-specific apparel.
    • References to known gang abbreviations, symbols, colors in online posts, identifiers, and documented interactions.
 
Hate/Racism or Radicalization:
  • Targeting specific groups/individuals.
  • Use of hate speech and/or slurs and/or symbolism.
  • Promoting and/or producing propaganda
  • Discrimination.
  • Shared ideologies connected to right- or left-wing violent extremist and supremacist groups.
  • Grooming by radicalized groups.

Homicide:
  • Identified student or community member has recently been a victim of homicide.

Mass Casualty Event:
  • Violent crime in which an/a attacker(s) kills or injures multiple individuals.
  • An attempt to commit an act of terror and/or an attempt to kill or injure multiple individuals.
Miscellaneous Illegal Activity:
  • Arson, theft, vandalism and/or trespassing.
  • Distribution of tobacco products
  • Credit card scams
  • *Distribution of drugs (on a case-by-case basis if no behavior is consistent with gang association or pathway to gang association).
 
Misuse of Tool:
  • Utilized for erase Report It Tips.

Mental Health Concerns:
  • Broad category that encapsulates any signs of or disclosure of depression, anxiety, eating disorders and/or body dysmorphia.
  • Referencing struggles with psychological disorders/mental health conditions.
  • Disclosure of and/or self-diagnosis of severe psychological disorders such as dissociative identity disorder (DID), borderline personality disorder (BPD), antisocial personality disorder (ASPD), etc.
 
Negative Digital Climate/Culture:
  • Meme/Tea/Confession pages identifying as a school-affiliated page.
  • Social media posts containing crude, derogatory, or defamatory material.
  • Sharing Extremely Graphic/Gore images or videos.
  • Targeted negative behavior towards a particular group. Commonly “emos,” “furries,” etc.
 
Non-Suicidal Self-Harm (NSSH):
  • References to and/or images showing marks consistent with self-harming behaviors (e.g., cutting or burning their skin).
 
Other:
  • Only utilized in WOB Reports. The most common use is to note – “Other: Possible Victim of Domestic Violence/Abuse.”
    • Regarding “Possible Victim of Domestic Violence/Abuse” the term “violence” is used if the SOC has referred to or shown depictions of physical violence from a guardian/caretaker or significant other. The term “abuse” is used if the SOC has described their guardian/caretaker or significant other as abusive or if the SOC has identified themselves as a victim of abuse.
 
  • Other: Potential Target for Retaliation
    • Based on the SOC’s content and the size of the potential audience.
    • Potential target of hate-based comments.
    • Engaged in online discourse regarding topics that could increase their risk of being targeted with hate-based comments by other users.
    • Negative online comments could potentially impact the SOC’s wellbeing.

Passed Away (Accident or Cause Unspecified):
  • Identified youth has recently passed away.
  • Checking social networks of peers and monitoring overall traumatic impact among peers.
  • Monitoring risk of contagion if passing is associated with an accidental overdose.

Physical Violence:
  • Non-consensual fights.
  • Physical assault.
  • Fights between youth unassociated with sports or organized combative activities (e.g., boxing, martial arts, wrestling).

Prohibited or Restricted Weapons and Other Related Items:
  • Objects that appear similar to that of knives/swords, mace/bear spray, brass knuckles, batons, and other objects being used for unintended purposes (e.g., possession of a baseball bat with intent to harm others, not for baseball practice).

Risk of Sextortion:
  • Posting sexually suggestive/explicit images.
  • Significant inappropriate sexual interactions/correspondence with other youth and adults.
  • Suggestive/explicit content paired with Amazon Wishlist’s or money transfer Services.
  • Stating explicit images of themselves have been “leaked,” or shared without their consent. Other subjects posting sexually suggestive/explicit images of SOC on forums (e.g., Reddit).
  • Stating they are engaging in conversations with or being approached (in person or online) by adults.
 
School Community Concerns:
  • Concerns about adults.
  • Concerns about staff and/or school.
  • Missing students.
  • Community chatter regarding incidents associated with the school community.
 
Sexual Assault:
  • Disclosure and/or Allegations.
 
Substance Use Concerns:
  • Substantial and/or disruptive use of marijuana/alcohol.
  • Use of drugs (LSD, Xanax, codeine, etc.).

*Distribution of substances is identified as a pathway to gang-associated behavior.


Suicidal Ideation:
  • Expressing thoughts of suicide.

Suicide Attempted:
  • Checking social networks of peers and monitoring for any risk of contagion and overall traumatic impact among peers.
 
Suicide Completed:
  • Identified youth has recently passed away.
  • Checking social networks of peers and monitoring for any risk of contagion and overall traumatic impact among peers.

Threat-Related Behavior:
  • Direct or indirect threats towards another individual, establishment, or group.
  • Behaviors consistent with a threat such as rehearsal behavior, accessing the means to carry out the threat, evidence of planning, research, or inordinate knowledge of previous mass killings and the killers.

Test:
  • Utilized for erase Report It Tips.