Columbia County Threat Assessment & Management Team (CCTAM) is a collaborative group of public, government, human services, non profit, religious, education, law enforcement and private entities committed to ensuring a way to report information and (when requested) assessing and providing assistance with mitigating threats and acts of targeted violence (Domestic Terrorism) for those who reside, work and visit Columbia County, NY 

While respecting local, state and federal laws, as well as individual rights and civil liberties, CCTAM strives to assist with the assessment and management of information, as well as mitigation of threats or incidents of targeted violence (Domestic Terrorism) within - or outside of but may involve - Columbia County, NY. Recommended by New York State and established by the Columbia County Board of Supervisors pursuant to the county's Domestic Terrorism Prevention Plan, the CCTAM acts as an advisory group providing assistance with assessing concerns, threats or incidents of targeted violence. Assistance can include providing input and resource information and intervention and management strategies. CCTAM does not mandate that agencies, organizations or individuals asking for assistance with targeted violence to implement or act on suggested strategies. 

CCTAM serves as a resource using a multidisciplinary approach that balances the safety needs of the public with the health and wellness needs of the agency, organization or person at risk. It is important to note that while sharing expertise from various disciplines, one focus of CCTAM is to provide public outreach and education which helps identify and understand targeted violence related activity, while also providing information and resources available for consideration when mitigating safety concerns and ongoing management. All CCTAM members will follow rules and regulations set forth by their individual agencies as they safeguard the integrity of all confidential information lawfully shared as part of assessing a domestic terrorism case.

The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation defines Domestic Terrorism as: Violent, criminal acts committed by individuals and/or groups to further ideological goals stemming from domestic influences, such as those of a political, religious, social, racial, or environmental nature. (source: FBI.gov.)

The New York State "Targeted Violence Prevention Strategy 2023" states;  The U.S. Secret Service’s (USSS) National Threat Assessment Center (NTAC) defines targeted violence as a “premeditated act of violence directed at a specific individual, group, or location, regardless of motivation and generally unrelated to other criminal activity.” For the purposes of this Strategy, targeted violence includes all types of terrorism (both foreign and domestic), hate crimes, mass killings, and other violent acts against a specific individual, group, or organization. From a definitional standpoint, targeted violence generally excludes spontaneous acts and violence associated with other criminal activity including interpersonal violence, street or gang-related crimes, violent crimes perpetrated by organized crime syndicates or similar organizations, and financially motivated crimes. However, some forms of interpersonal violence can be considered targeted violence, to include stalking and domestic violence.

For our purposes, any threats or activity involving acts of targeted violence are considered Domestic Terrorism.  

Targeted violence does not only affect those people injured or killed (or their family), it can happen anywhere and affects the entire community. The ability to prevent targeted violence relies on all of us...all members of our communities. History has shown that when an extremist group or an individual is planning an act of violence, there is usually pre-attack activity or behavior. For an individual, the behavior may relate to emotional or mental health crisis that may be short term or progress over a period of time and may include:

• Interpersonal interaction changes

• Physical aggression

• Media/internet usage relating to violence

• Inappropriate interest in firearms, explosive devises or other weapons

This could be a classmate, co-worker, employee, family member, neighbor or a friend. Reporting concerning behavior to CCTAM will allow skilled professionals to assess and intervene to hopefully guide the person away from the "Highway to violence."