Examining the Link Between Material Support Cases and Violent Plots

• In Event: Examining Prosecutorial Practices Nationally and Abroad

Abstract

Recent literature on material support suggests that prosecutors have relied on material support charges in the vast majority of federal terrorism trials over the past 5 years (see, Greenberg, 2015). Given the proliferation of material support charges, there is a surprising dearth of literature on the subject. One existing piece of research by Sullivan, et al (2014) found that approximately 20% of material support cases in the United States can be linked to some type of violent plot or incident, but no extant literature has examined empirically the relationship between material support cases and violent plots. This research seeks shed light on that issue. Using the American Terrorism Study database, which tracks federal terrorism cases, we have identified the terrorism cases between 2000 and 2015 that contain a material support charge. We will examine the links between federal terrorism cases involving material support charges to planned or completed violent plots in the United States, with particular emphasis placed on how closely defendants charged with material support are also tied to planned or completed acts of violence. We anticipate that our findings will provide a valuable addition to this area of literature.

Authors

• Ian Brecht, University of Arkansas, Terrorism Research Center in Fulbright College

• Christopher A. Shields, University of Arkansas