Corrections Community

In research sponsored by the National Institute of Justice, Mark S. Hamm of Indiana State University investigated Terrorist Recruitment in American Correctional Institutions: An Exploratory Study of Non-Traditional Faith Groups, newly posted by NCJRS.  "The study creates a starting point for more in-depth research on the relationship between prisoners' conversion to non-traditional religions and extremist violence."  It also includes a review of the literature to date, which "shows that there are currently opposing views about Islam in prison."  What research is now underway addressing this important topic?

I read the report. It is the most comprehensive work I have seen on this subject.

I personally agree with most of the findings. Although it is a relatively "small" problem at present, the potential for catastrophic attacks mandates that we train our staff to recognize the signs of prison radicalization, recruitment, and terrorist organization. I have been in contact with our counterparts in the Middle East and Europe, and we must be proactive in our measures so that it does not affect us as it does their prisons. But I do not believe we should equate groups of radicalized inmates with gangs, even if they do share some of the same characteristics. Their determined worldview, their potential for staying under the radar and for perpetuating catastrophic terrorist attacks transcends the criminal gangs.

Of course, this is my opinion alone and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the USDOJ or the FBOP.

If readers want my personal view, they can read it at

http://stat.squarespace.com/further-reading/

Then click on "Terrorists in Prison". 

Eric

Eileen, the article you posted at

http://www.nicic.org/Library/022793

 was actually published in September 2007.

Thanks,

Eric

Eric, thanks for the information!

The preliminary report from the NATO Advanced Research Workshop on inmate radicalization and terror activities held in Israel is out at

 http://ict.org.il/var/119/95353-NATO%20AWR%20detailed%20content%20report.pdf

 It confirms what has already been stated, that western countries are going to have more and more challenges to deal with pertaining to prison terrorism.

Eric

Interesting testimony given in February 2008 to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights in DC pertaining to the dangers of terrorist radicalization in prisons at

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/docs/legal/cases/rl_dscrm_prsn_cs/CarolynAtkins_cvlrghts.pdf

http://www.gwumc.edu/hspi/congress/feb8_08.html

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/docs/legal/cases/rl_dscrm_prsn_cs/GregorySaathoffCvlRghtsComm.pdf