Frequently Asked Questions

As early as possible. In violence, use of force, and premises liability matters, conditions at the incident location can change rapidly — evidence may be altered, surveillance footage overwritten, or physical environments modified. Early engagement allows Dr. Vecchi to help guide discovery strategy, identify critical evidence to preserve, and assess the viability of your claims or defenses before significant resources are committed.

Engagement begins with a confidential introductory call to discuss case specifics and determine whether Dr. Vecchi's expertise is a good fit. If retained, the process progresses through four stages: case material review, analysis and report preparation, deposition testimony, and trial testimony if the case proceeds that far. Each phase is billed independently, so there is no obligation beyond the current stage.

For an initial assessment, Dr. Vecchi typically reviews: the incident report or complaint, any available police reports, witness statements, surveillance footage, the property's security policies and procedures, training records for relevant personnel, prior incident history at the location, and any existing expert reports. The more complete the initial package, the more precise the preliminary assessment will be.

Yes. Dr. Vecchi provides objective, empirically grounded analysis regardless of which side retains him. His role is to apply the science of behavioral analysis and threat assessment to the facts of the case — not to advocate for a particular outcome. This objectivity is what makes his testimony credible and resilient under cross-examination.

Absolutely. Dr. Vecchi accepts cases nationwide and has provided expert testimony in jurisdictions across the United States. Remote case review and virtual depositions are available, and he travels for site inspections and trial testimony as needed.

Dr. Vecchi holds a Ph.D. and served as a Supervisory Special Agent in the FBI's Behavioral Science Unit at Quantico — the unit responsible for developing the Bureau's approach to behavioral analysis, crisis negotiation, and threat assessment. He has over 30 years of federal experience, has trained thousands of law enforcement professionals, and has published extensively in peer-reviewed academic journals. His combination of operational field experience and rigorous academic credentials is exceptionally rare in the expert witness field.

Yes. Dr. Vecchi's methodology is grounded in established scientific principles, peer-reviewed research, and widely accepted professional standards within the fields of behavioral science and threat assessment. His reports are structured to address the Daubert criteria — including testability, peer review, known error rates, and general acceptance — and his testimony has withstood rigorous judicial scrutiny.

Three things. First, his FBI Behavioral Science Unit pedigree gives his testimony a level of institutional credibility that resonates with judges and juries. Second, he is both a practitioner and a published academic researcher — his opinions are not just experience-based but are anchored in empirical science. Third, his ability to translate complex behavioral science into clear, compelling language that non-experts can understand makes him exceptionally effective in the courtroom.

Dr. Vecchi's practice focuses on four primary areas: violence risk assessment (evaluating whether an act of violence was foreseeable and preventable), use of force analysis (assessing whether law enforcement or security use of force was objectively reasonable), premises liability (analyzing security adequacy and foreseeability of criminal acts on a property), and law enforcement policy review (evaluating whether departmental procedures, training, and tactics met the standard of care).

Yes — foreseeability analysis is a core competency. Dr. Vecchi evaluates prior incident history, known warning signs, threat indicators, the adequacy of existing security measures, and industry standards to determine whether a reasonable person or organization should have anticipated the potential for violence. This analysis is critical in premises liability and negligent security claims.

Use-of-force evaluations are measured against the constitutional reasonableness standard established by Graham v. Connor (1989) and subsequent case law. Dr. Vecchi assesses the totality of the circumstances, including the severity of the alleged crime, whether the subject posed an immediate threat, and whether the subject was actively resisting or attempting to flee. He also evaluates officer actions against the agency's own policies, training, and nationally recognized law enforcement standards.

Expert reports include: a statement of qualifications and basis for opinions, materials reviewed, methodology employed, detailed factual analysis, application of relevant standards and research, specific opinions and conclusions with supporting rationale, and applicable references to peer-reviewed literature and professional standards. Reports are structured for clarity and are designed to be persuasive under judicial scrutiny.

Exceptionally well. Dr. Vecchi's career in the FBI — including conducting high-stakes interviews and managing crisis situations — has given him a calm, measured communication style that is difficult to rattle. He testifies based on facts and science, not advocacy, which means his positions are internally consistent and resistant to impeachment. Opposing counsel cannot force him into contradictions because his opinions flow logically from his established methodology.

Yes. Dr. Vecchi is equipped for virtual depositions and remote testimony when permitted by the court. For trial testimony and site inspections, in-person attendance is preferred and arranged as needed based on the jurisdiction and court requirements.

VGI training is organized across the full threat lifecycle — prevention, intervention, and response. Prevention courses include the VGI Threat Detection & Reporting Certificate (4 contact hours), the VGI Behavioral Threat Assessment Certification (16 contact hours), the VGI Behavioral Threat Detection & Assessment Instructor Certification (16 contact hours), and Risk Analysis, Vulnerability Assessment & Violence Mitigation. Intervention and response courses cover de-escalation and crisis intervention, engaging individuals with mental illness and personality disorders, situational awareness and pre-attack behaviors, and escaping, evading, and engaging targeted violence.

Every course is available in three formats: an online course that is asynchronous and self-paced; a live group Zoom session that is instructor-led (minimum of four participants); and a customized course designed specifically for your organization. Training is delivered online, in person, and in hybrid formats depending on your needs.

It depends on the course. The Threat Detection & Reporting Certificate is built for employees, educators, security staff, and anyone responsible for noticing and reporting concerning behavior. The Behavioral Threat Assessment Certification is aimed at threat assessment team members, security professionals, and organizational leaders. The Instructor Certification prepares professionals to deliver VGI behavioral threat detection and assessment courses in-house.

Yes. Each course carries a defined number of contact hours — 4 for the Threat Detection & Reporting Certificate and 16 each for the Behavioral Threat Assessment Certification and the Instructor Certification. Participants who complete a course receive the corresponding VGI certificate or certification.

Rapid Assault Tactics (RAT) is Dr. Vecchi's dedicated tactical training program, covering a family of specialized disciplines from personal and team protection through to specialized response. It runs as its own program alongside VGI's behavioral threat curriculum. Full course details are available on the RAT training site.

VGI consulting spans four areas: behavioral threat assessment and targeted violence prevention — helping organizations build threat assessment teams and processes grounded in behavioral science; risk and vulnerability assessment across physical and cyber environments; crisis management and targeted violence response, including preparation, response, and recovery for workplace violence and active-shooter events; and expert witness services.

VGI serves corporations, small businesses, schools, law enforcement and security organizations, government agencies, and individuals, delivering consulting and training online, in person, and in hybrid formats.

Yes. VGI is a dba of Vecchi Group International, LLC — a service-disabled veteran-owned small business (SD-VOSB) eligible for U.S. federal contracts and cleared for confidential, secret, and top-secret engagements.

Engagement begins with a confidential introductory call to understand your organization, its risk profile, and what you need to accomplish. From there Dr. Vecchi scopes the work — whether that is standing up a threat assessment team, conducting a vulnerability assessment, or preparing a crisis response plan — and provides a written proposal before any work begins.