Severity Rubric · v1.0
RED · YELLOW · GREEN risk triage
Every published incident should carry a clear severity label when triage is set. Shared definitions reduce disputes between volunteers, coordinators, and stakeholders reading the same Case ID.
Choose the highest level that matches the current situation. If indicators overlap, prefer the more severe label until the risk is clearly reduced.
RED · Emergency
Immediate physical threat, severe blackmail, or ongoing extortion that puts a person at imminent risk of harm.
Examples
- Credible threats of violence tied to online content
- Active sextortion or severe blackmail with imminent publish-or-pay pressure
- Ongoing extortion where delay increases danger to the person affected
Volunteer action
Move yourself and the affected person toward safety. Contact emergency services (999) / police immediately when there is an immediate physical threat. Do not wait for platform review.
Escalation rule
- Who is notified
- YfP district coordinator and InfoCheck Circle program lead
- Timeframe
- Within 1 hour of logging the case
- Channel
- Phone or WhatsApp first; then ensure the case is submitted in the portal marked RED
YELLOW · High risk
Serious digital harm with significant risk of financial loss, privacy breach, or targeted harassment — urgent but not an immediate physical emergency.
Examples
- Hacked account with active misuse
- Serious fraud in progress (MFS/bank, loan-app extortion)
- Doxxing or intimate-image threats that are not yet an immediate physical emergency
Volunteer action
Preserve evidence safely, avoid engaging the perpetrator, and refer the person to appropriate support (e.g. Online GD, legal aid, PCSW where relevant).
Escalation rule
- Who is notified
- YfP district coordinator (copy program lead if needed)
- Timeframe
- Within 24 hours of logging the case
- Channel
- Phone, WhatsApp, or email; portal case marked YELLOW
GREEN · Caution
Suspicious or harmful content that warrants documentation and monitoring, without indicators of imminent severe harm.
Examples
- Suspicious messages or phishing attempts already contained
- Unverified claims circulating in community groups
- Unwanted contact that does not escalate to blackmail or doxxing
Volunteer action
Log the pattern for community awareness, complete verification checks where possible, and monitor for escalation into YELLOW or RED.
Escalation rule
- Who is notified
- No urgent escalation — standard program follow-up
- Timeframe
- Next routine follow-up cycle
- Channel
- Portal submission only
Follow-up priority & citation
This rubric is a core InfoCheck Circle innovation for consistent field triage. Cite it in final and donor reports when discussing severity tagging.
InfoCheck Circle Severity Rubric (RED / YELLOW / GREEN), Youth for Policy — InfoCheck Circle (DDIBAN017).
Emergency life-safety: always call 999 / police first when there is an immediate physical threat — portal escalation does not replace emergency services.