The authors developed a list of 42 components from the best practices of 10 leading-edge workplace violence prevention and response programs. Components include applicant background screening, written workplace violence prevention plan, senior management participation and briefing, employee assistance program, crisis management/trauma team, threat assessment team, critical incident review, outplacement services for terminated employees, and termination guidelines for employees who display the potential for violent behavior. In addition to describing components that pertain to programs and procedures, components were also identified in the areas of training, policies, and reporting/recording. The authors advise that the benchmarking described in this article enables an organization to identify its strengths and weaknesses compared to the industry's best practices, to learn more efficient techniques and tools, and to implement them to stay ahead of the competition. 25 references