A Tarasoff warning is a notification that is made by a licensed mental health professional to the police and also the intended victim when a patient threatens violence against a victim.
The Tarasoff warning is required by law and is intended to protect a victim from any harm.
How the Tarasoff warning works is.
A counselor or therapist determines if a patient is a serious danger to another person.
The counselor or therapist then documents their actions and their reasoning.
Then the police investigate and may take the patient into custody if necessary.
The Tarasoff warning comes from the case of Tarasoff V Regents of the University of California.
Tatiana Tarasoff was murdered by her stalker after he told his therapist that he intended to kill her.