Case characteristics of threats toward state government targets investigated by a Midwestern State

The research literature contains a limited amount of data about threat cases involving public officials. In particular, little focused attention has been paid to threat cases involving state-level government targets. The present research reports descriptive data regarding characteristics of threat cases involving state government targets, comparing approach and non-approach cases and incidents. Differences were found in the average time between contacts, use of written forms of communication, and the primary topic mentioned in the contact(s). This information is presented to inform practitioners about a variety of characteristics relating to a certain range of threat cases, and to assist in sorting case information during the initial stages of threat assessment.