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William Woodward on factors investigators should be looking for to gain clues in the Newtown shooting
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-- of stuff let's bring in William -- woods who's with the center for the study and prevention of violence of the University of Colorado in boulder.
He's actually joining us from London the bureau though I believe today good to see mr.
-- thank you for being here.
Thank you for having -- died died did so one would question why do we do we have any -- as well.
You know I I think we're not ready to answer that question that way I think we know.
Why a lot of violence occurs when in this case I think we're gonna have to learn a lot more about this whole situation and how it developed.
And what's the history.
And I don't think we have that -- So but when we do it look at these kind of all of the incidents.
Mr.
Woodward.
I guess there are some common factors and one of them seems to be that it's it's frequently.
Young males who carry out these kind of attacks so can we did use anything from that at all.
Well we certainly know from the Secret Service study in 2002.
That is much more likely to be a young male who's involved in that process.
We also know that there was likely planning ahead of time and that it may well be likely that some people knew about it ahead of time.
And so we do need to look at that sort of what happened in the few hours before the attack occurred.
But we also need to look at what happened in the years before the attack occurred.
-- interest in -- when you say big look at the -- the years and the hours.
What are we looking for and I know you come to obviously you come talk specifically about Adam -- because we don't know enough yet.
But what kinds of things should investigators and the anybody who wants to prevent this kind of thing from happening again what should we look -- one of the warning signs.
Well I I think the the warning signs are are pretty clear that you've got.
Someone who is I'm not communicating well or actually tells you about a plan.
Or someone who looks like they're in trouble I think.
Warning signs were seen by actually by his school he was having problems in school.
And they responded by putting around him a quite a few people to help support him in school and of course -- all fell away when -- after he left school.
-- -- -- And there's been a lot of talk as well mr.
Woodward in certain circles all of that -- the violence some valid culture.
The violence of of movies the violence in video games is there any evidence.
That you have come across -- your studies.
That shows that that does contribute.
To these kind of incidents.
What we know is that violence in the movie and violence in the media is a risk factor.
But there are a lot of risk factors for violence a lot of protective factors for violence.
And until we really understand those -- that we do know that media violence is a lower risk factor.
And so when you accumulate a lot of risk factors media may play a role with certain kinds of people out have a lot of other risk factors you you're not necessarily you talk about that.
That and violence in the media as a lower risk factor what then are some of the highest risk factors.
Well with that depending on the age group -- under twelve for example the use of substances any any kid who's involved in the use of substances under the age of twelve.
That's a really important risk factor for violence.
Over the age of twelve hanging around -- -- social peers hanging around and gangs.
Also being really distant from a not connected.
To the community and really not being a member of a community that -- in that is being kind of a loner it's also respect so what do.
Knew you told him that so does -- some.
That's some of the studies of this some of the risk factors.
Your organization is the study and prevention of violence does -- prevention.
The key -- prevention is sense to some extent.
That you're saying is that person's.
We're seeing that this heard this guy or or a woman in India and rarest circumstances.
Is a loan.
Is -- strange threats maps and has to do something about it and that's difficult though isn't.
It is difficult but in Colorado we have a program called safe to tell.
Which is a program where you can call anonymously -- your name is not kept.
They've been able to stop over 700.
Threat threats of violence and -- eight.
Attacks on schools.
They've been able to stop those because they have an anomalous line that than anyone can report that and what happens is that report goes both to the police and the school.
And in a community can also go to mental health.
So that that information and can be used to try to get a handle on the particular situation with a specific person.
And that but then -- -- the concern is quite naturally perhaps.
About it and individuals.
Civil liberties.
Right and that's that's very true.
On the other hand I think that's sort of like what we ran into with Columbine -- -- call -- code of silence that is we don't wanna tell on anyone because.
We're afraid we'll somehow hurt them.
But when there's a threat of violence or involvement in violence that code needs to go away and people need to know what's the right thing to do to tell on someone.
And to get them help.
All right William -- would fascinating just told you set mr.
-- what is from the center for the stadium prevention of violence.
At the University of Colorado we're putting the web site up right now at mr.
-- thank you very much had -- fascinating insights that thank you sir are.
