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Behavioral Intervention Team

The South Dakota State University Behavioral Intervention Team (BIT) seeks to identify those who are or may be at risk of harm to self or others. The early identification is crucial to the mitigation of risk.

BIT enlists the support of all in a community-wide effort to ensure the safety and security of the community.

  • This process relies heavily on community members caring about those with whom they live and work.
  • Behavioral intervention is a restorative, not a punitive process that takes action for and not to members of the community who have exhibited concerning behavior.

The BIT seeks to identify and reduce potential sources of conflict before they result in harm.

  • The BIT is responsible for evaluating reports of threatening and concerning behaviors.
  • All concerns and complaints must and will be taken seriously and will be reviewed and addressed.
  • The BIT understands that at times members of the community will come to the attention of the team when little or no need exists for further assessment or case management.

The BIT has established operating procedures to identify, access and manage threats that pose a danger to an individual's own safety and/or to the safety of others. When an assessment of a concern or threat is deemed necessary, one of two actions are available.

  1. The assessment may indicate that no current threat to self or others exist, but the behavior of the person is unhealthy and if not addressed may cause additional and more serious problems. In this instance, more appropriate campus and/or community resources may be used to address the behavior.
  2. The assessment may indicate the need for an intervention which may include a management plan developed by the BIT in cooperation with the appropriate existing university resource(s). In this case the appropriate resource(s) will be responsible for implementing the plan and will report to BIT.

Violence or threatening behaviors that are violations of law and/or university policy may result in action taken through referral to the appropriate campus processes and referrals. The BIT will not take direct action but will coordinate information sharing and design, implementation and monitor progress of a management plan.

Behaviors do not have to be violations of the law to be of concern. In addition to illegal conduct such as threats, assault and harassment, the BIT may also review instances of changed or changing behaviors that may singularly or in combination, generate concern. These behaviors include but are not limited to:

  • suicidal comments or threats
  • disruptive actions
  • increased absenteeism from work or class
  • incidents involving other members of the community
  • disturbing communications
  • violations of university policies and procedures
  • reduction in academic or employee performance

As stated in "How You Can Help" and "Identifying and Responding to a Situation", you should use the appropriate resources depending on the situation. It is the responsibility of the campus resource to inform the BIT of the situation.