Definition
An incident is an event that triggers an incident response. Jigsaw recognizes three families:
- Behavior breaches — actual or suspected breaches of behavior requirements or expectations, by anyone required or expected to observe them. See Introduction to Behavior Breach Response in Jigsaw.
- Possible sexual abuse — a suspicion, indication, or allegation. See SAM Incident Type (Suspicion, Indication, Allegation).
- Disclosures — SAM-related revelations that could affect the organization’s reputation. See Disclosures Relating to Sexual Abuse.
The response depends on the incident’s type and on the preparations made before it. An incident ends when everything related to it has concluded — sometimes after a short investigation finds no further action needed, sometimes years later, when the last related civil action is disposed of.
Why This Matters
Understanding the different incident types and preparing appropriately for each ensures that responses are timely and effective, whatever the incident calls for.