title: Prevention of homicidal violence in schools in Germany: the Berlin Leaking Project and the Networks Against School Shootings Project (NETWASS).
abstract: Since 1999, Germany has experienced at least twelve serious cases of targeted school violence. This article describes two projects designed to fill the gap between universal prevention and emergency response in preventing severe forms of school violence in Germany. The Berlin Leaking Project examined the viability of preventive efforts based on early identification of leaking behavior that often precedes targeted school attacks. Leaking refers to any behavior or communication that indicates a student is preparing to carry out a violent attack. This would include explicit or implied threats of violence, apparent fascination with prior acts of violence such as Columbine, and any evidence of planning or preparation to carry out an attack. The NETWASS project will test a training program and intervention strategy based on those findings, examining the usefulness of a threat assessment approach to prevent violence by training teachers to recognize leaking behavior by students. This approach is extended by training teachers on a larger scale to identify leaking and then having a school-based team evaluate the student and initiate appropriate interventions, such as mental health services, and in some cases, law enforcement action.
authors.affiliation: Freie Universität Berlin.
authors.forename: Vincenz
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Leuschner
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bondü
authors.forename: Miriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schroer-Hippel
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Panno
authors.forename: Katharina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Neumetzler
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fisch
authors.forename: Johanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Scholl
authors.forename: Herbert
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Scheithauer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001604:Berlin; D058445:Bullying / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D005389:Firearms; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D011057:Politics; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011640:Public Policy; D012574:Schools; D040241:Social Marketing; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014754:Violence / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data