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District expands threat-assessment process and plans new monitoring tiers
Summary
Julia Solon described Newark CSD's behavioral threat-assessment model, developed with At Risk International and reviewed with FBI consultants, moving from a three-level to a five-level scale and implementing an 18-month minimum monitoring period for dismissal of inactive cases.
Julia Solon, director of family and community engagement, told the board the district implemented its threat-assessment process after training with At Risk International in 2022 and modeled it on the CSTAG framework.
"The main goal for threat assessment is to identify the threat, manage it, and ensure everybody's safe," Solon said, describing a fact-based investigative approach with building-level and district-level teams. She said the district uses a multi-disciplinary district team with partners including social services, probation, Wayne Behavioral Health and local police.
Solon explained the current monitoring practice and planned adjustments: the district previously used three levels of concern (low, medium, high) and will move to five levels to better distinguish communications of concern from persons of concern. She said levels 2 and 3 include active case management (counseling, wraparound supports) with biweekly monitoring and monthly checks at lower levels. The district will adopt an FBI-recommended practice to dismiss inactive cases after a minimum of 18 months of no activity.
Board members asked about external review and continued training; Solon said the district will conduct an internal audit of the process this summer and consult with CSTAG experts to refine procedures. The district positions the approach as both a safety and support mechanism rather than solely a punitive pathway.
