Experience With Tarasoff Warnings Among Florida Law Enforcement Agencies
| Question | Total n = 129 | Police n = 91 | Sheriff n = 29 | 911 n = 9 | p | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Agency has a policy and/or procedure on what to do if a mental health provider calls in expressing concern about a patient making a threat towards others but not a threat towards themselves. | 107 (82.9) | 74 (81.3) | 26 (89.6) | 7 (77.8) | .532 |
| 1a | This policy or procedure is the same as if the patient was expressing a threat to harm just themselves. | 88 (68.2) | 65 (71.4) | 19 (65.5) | 4 (44.4) | .180 |
| 2 | The information is disseminated to the general law enforcement officers on duty if a warning is received. | 119 (92.3) | 85 (93.4) | 26 (89.6) | 8 (88.9) | .746 |
| 2a | The warning is transmitted to the next shift within a 24-hour period. | 112 (86.8) | 80 (87.9) | 25 (86.2) | 7 (77.8) | .867 |
| 2b | The warning is disseminated to a specific unit or active officer. | 8 (6.2) | 4 (4.4) | 3 (10.3) | 1 (11.1) | .643 |
| 3 | Agency has a policy or procedure to notify a potential victim if a specific victim is identifiable. | 115 (89.1) | 82 (90.1) | 24 (82.7) | 9 (100.0) | .300 |
| 4 | Agency has a policy or procedure to notify a locational authority (e.g., management) if no specific individual is threatened but a general location is identified in a threat (e.g., workplace, school, entertainment venue). | 118 (91.4) | 81 (89.0) | 28 (96.5) | 9 (100.0) | .634 |
| 5 | Agency has a policy or procedure to monitor a potential victim if a specific individual is identified. | 77 (59.6) | 54 (59.3) | 16 (55.2) | 7 (77.8) | .478 |
| 6 | Agency has a policy or procedure to monitor a potential location if a specific location is identified. | 104 (80.6) | 74 (81.3) | 22 (75.9) | 8 (88.9) | .848 |
| 7. | Agency has a policy or procedure to document a warning call from a mental health provider. | 116 (89.9) | 82 (90.1) | 27 (93.1) | 7 (77.8) | .408 |
| 8. | Agency has a policy or procedure to notify a state body for additional action or information tracking purposes when a mental health provider calls (e.g., the Florida Department of Law Enforcement). | 38 (29.5) | 28 (30.7) | 8 (27.6) | 2 (25.0) | .404 |
| 9. | Officer responding to this survey has knowledge or education regarding the court case/ruling known as Tarasoff. | 56 (43.4) | 37 (40.6) | 17 (58.6) | 2 (22.2) | .002* |
| 9a. | Officer has a good functional/working understanding of the Tarasoff case. | 48 (37.2) | 32 (35.2) | 15 (51.7) | 1 (11.1) | .335 |
Data are presented as n (%).
↵* p < .05.