Homicidal Risk Assessment Tool
A structured, evidence-based platform for identifying and responding to homicidal risk — built for school counselors, mental health professionals, and threat assessment teams.
What Is the Homicidal Risk Assessment Tool?
The Homicidal Risk Assessment Tool is a structured, evidence-based system developed by Homicide Zero to help professionals evaluate whether an individual may be at risk of engaging in homicidal violence. It is purpose-built for targeted violence — not a repurposed general mental health screener — and is grounded in peer-reviewed threat assessment research.
The tool was developed by a multidisciplinary team at Homicide Zero, combining expertise in clinical psychology, behavioral threat assessment, and school safety. It is designed for use in K–12 school settings, community mental health programs, and any environment where professionals need a structured, defensible process for evaluating homicidal ideation and risk.
Unlike instruments that produce only a risk score, the Homicidal Risk Assessment Tool connects each stage of evaluation to specific, resource-matched intervention guidance — so that identification leads directly to action.
How It Works
Three integrated components move from initial identification to structured intervention — in under 30 minutes for most cases.
Step 1: HTS
Homicide Threat Screener
A rapid 5-minute screener for frontline staff. Identifies individuals who warrant a full assessment. Requires 30 minutes of online training (0.5 CE credit).
Step 2: HSRA
Homicide Safety Risk Assessment
A comprehensive 20-minute assessment for trained mental health professionals. Evaluates risk across multiple domains and produces a structured risk profile. Requires 1 hour of training (1.0 CE credit).
Step 3: Safety Steps
Structured Intervention Guidance
Translates HSRA results into specific, resource-matched intervention actions — referral pathways, safety planning, monitoring protocols, and family engagement guidance.
Who Uses the Homicidal Risk Assessment Tool?
Designed for the professionals most likely to encounter individuals in crisis — before violence occurs.
School Counselors
Use the HTS screener to evaluate students who display warning signs, and escalate to the HSRA when a deeper evaluation is warranted. The tool integrates with existing school threat assessment team protocols.
Mental Health Professionals
Licensed clinicians use the HSRA for comprehensive evaluation of clients presenting with homicidal ideation. The structured format supports documentation, clinical decision-making, and continuity of care.
Threat Assessment Teams
Multi-disciplinary threat assessment teams use the full HTS → HSRA → Safety Steps workflow to standardize their evaluation process, reduce subjectivity, and ensure every case receives consistent, defensible documentation.
Built on Peer-Reviewed Research
The Homicidal Risk Assessment Tool is grounded in published research on violence risk, homicidal ideation, and threat assessment. Independent validation studies support its efficacy.
27× Screening Efficacy
Validation research indicates the HTS screener identifies individuals with active homicidal ideation at a rate 27 times higher than the general population base rate — enabling targeted intervention before violence occurs.
Peer-Reviewed Studies
Multiple peer-reviewed publications support the theoretical and empirical framework underlying the tool. Full citations and study summaries are available on the Homicide Zero research page.
Ongoing Validation
The tool is continuously refined based on real-world field data and practitioner feedback from schools and clinical settings across the country.
At a Glance
- Purpose-built for homicidal ideation — not a repurposed general screener
- 5-minute HTS screener for frontline identification
- 20-minute HSRA for comprehensive clinical assessment
- Safety Steps translates results into immediate action
- 27× efficacy rate in independent validation
- Peer-reviewed evidence base
- CE-accredited training for HTS (0.5 CE) and HSRA (1.0 CE)
- Used by school counselors, clinicians, and threat assessment teams
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the Homicidal Risk Assessment Tool
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about our violence prevention tools and services.
Ready to Implement the Homicidal Risk Assessment Tool?
Join school counselors, mental health professionals, and threat assessment teams who use Homicide Zero to identify risk before it becomes violence.