Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School (“AJMLS”) considers the safety and security of its students, faculty, staff, and campus community its highest priority. To ensure an atmosphere that fosters and promotes a safe and secure learning environment, AJMLS is committed to maintaining an environment that is free of violence and threats of violence.
To address incidences involving students of concern, AJMLS has created a Threat Assessment Team (“TAT”). A student of concern is a student whose apparent physical and/or mental state or related conduct is such that the student may be, or has become, a threat to himself or herself, others, the educational process, or the AJMLS community in general.
The TAT is a multi-disciplinary team that responds to reports from faculty, staff, and students about behavior exhibited by a student that is disruptive and/or threatens, or that is perceived to threaten, the safety of the student or others on the AJMLS campus. The TAT also identifies and connects a student of concern with the appropriate interventions and provides periodic, post-incident follow-up with the student, as needed.
It is the responsibility of faculty, staff, and students to report immediately any situation that could possibly result in harm to anyone at AJMLS.
The following members of the AJMLS community sit on the Threat Assessment Team:
- AJMLS Security
- Associate Dean of Student Affairs, Dr. Sheryl Harrison
- Associate Dean of Academic Programs, Judith Barger
- Off-Campus Counselor, Sarah Young
- Off-Campus Counselor, Cecil Walker
Helpful Pointers
Please keep the following tips in mind should you encounter a campus crisis:
- If a friend seems ill, intoxicated, or drugged, get help immediately. Do NOT worry about him/her “getting in trouble.” His/her health and safety need to be your first concern.
- Stay as calm as possible in crisis situations. Quick, clear-headed thinking can make all the difference.
- Do not hamper the efforts of medical or emergency personnel. Get out of the way and help with crowd control if staff members ask you to assist.
- If someone is bleeding, apply pressure and ask someone else to get medical help immediately.
- Listen to trained staff and do not second-guess their directives. They know what they are doing and have your best interests at heart. Arguing in the midst of a crisis is not helpful.
Reporting a Student of Concern
What Should I do if I Feel Threatened or in Danger?
Encounters with other students that leave you frightened or in fear for your personal safety or the safety of others qualify as emergencies and should be taken very seriously. Do not attempt to mitigate or resolve situations like this on your own. AJMLS Security is available to provide immediate assistance in a threatening situation and to assist you with notifying the appropriate resources. Once the immediate risk of harm has been mitigated or removed, please contact Dr. Harrison at (678) 916-2681 or (404) 808-7887, or any other member of the TAT.
Threatening Student Behavior Brochure
Things to Remember When Reporting a Student of Concern
Be prepared to answer the following questions:
WHO – The name of the student.
WHAT – The circumstances and sequence of events leading up to the incident.
WHEN – The time of day.
WHERE – The location of the incident.
HOW – The behavior that was displayed.
WHY – The cause of the incident.
The responding person will follow up with you at a later time. All reports of students of concern are reviewed by the AJMLS Threat Assessment Team.
Protocol for Specific Emergency Behaviors
| Type of Emergency Behavior | Course of Action to Take |
|---|---|
| Drug Overdose | Contact poison control at 1 (800) 222-1222 and Contact 911 and Contact Dean Harrison at (678) 916-2681 |
| Aggressive or threatening behavior | Contact Security at (404) 380-4240; Contact 911; Remove yourself to a safer environment; and Contact Dean Harrison at (678) 916-2681 or Dean Walker-Cash at (678) 916-2659 |
| Suicidal Ideations | Contact 1Alliance Counseling and Psychotherapy Services (off-campus counselor) at (678) 310-6631 or info@1AllianceCPS.com. You may also reach out to Cecil Walker (off-campus counselor) at (470) 231-9640 or Sarah Young (off-campus counselor) at (202) 591-9770 |
| Other disturbing behaviors | Contact 1Alliance Counseling and Psychotherapy Services at (678) 310-6631 or info@1AllianceCPS.com. You may also reach out to Cecil Walker (off-campus counselor) at (470) 231-9640, Sarah Young (off-campus counselor) at (202) 591-9770, Dean Walker-Cash at 678-916-2659 |
General Safety Tips
Keeping the campus safe is everyone’s responsibility. You can keep yourself and others safer by being alert and reporting activity that is suspicious in nature. The following are simple things we all can do to contribute to campus safety:
1. Report the presence of strangers, whether they have gained access, are hanging around, or are exhibiting questionable behavior, to Campus Security.
2. Community Care. To help prevent injury and property damage while also keeping fellow students safe, take a few minutes to report seemingly “little things” like:
- Slippery floors
- Water leaks
- Broken glass
- Missing windows/window screens
- Broken Doors/Furniture
- Emergency equipment that does not work
3. Parking Deck and Nearby Parking Lots.
- Have your car key in hand, ready to put in the lock, as you are walking to your car.
- Walk out to your car with someone. Campus Security will escort you to your car.
- Always keep your car locked, whether you are in it or not.
- Park as close as you can to your destination.
- Make sure your personal items are not positioned in clear view of those who may pass by
Helpful Numbers
AJMLS Security: (404) 380-4240
Associate Dean of Student Affairs: (678) 916-2681
Assistant Dean of Student Affairs: (678) 916-2682
Associate Dean of Academic Programs: (678) 916-2638
Off-Campus Counselor, Cecil Walker: (470) 231-9640
Off-Campus Counselor, Sarah Young: (202) 591-9770