Tell adult about violent threats at school

DEAR AMY: I am a senior in high school. I have some former friends who have turned on me, and one who has a violent streak has started threatening me. I try to stay away from them, but there are times we are inevitably going to meet. This friend has been known to bite people, and her boyfriend carries a knife around campus. I was threatened into secrecy about this a year ago. I am thinking about talking to the police officer at our school, but I fear my ex-friends will want retribution. What should I do?Freaked Out Ex-Friend

DEAR FREAKED OUT: I shared your letter with Elizabeth Englander, director of the Massachusetts Aggression Reduction Center, which works to reduce bullying and violence in schools. She suggests a strategy.

"This kind of incident is very similar to situations where children or spouses are being threatened. You're terrified about your safety; you need to think carefully about how and to whom you report these threats. You need to choose an adult who you feel confident will make sure first and foremost that you're physically safe. That might be a parent or an adult at school, or a relative or community member. Be very specific about your fears about being bitten or, worse, attacked with a weapon.

After you've established a way to stay safe, then you can go ahead and discuss how this came about and other details. The details, ultimately, are going to be very important in helping you resolve the problem, so don't leave anything out.

"Threats of violence are a crime. If you trust the police officer at your school, he or she may be a good place to start. If possible, have a parent or a friend come with you when you report, to support you. That person's presence will make talking about the situation a little easier. If you're not sure what to say or how to start, print out your letter and take it with you."