The Resocialization of Radical Fundamentalist Terrorists: Highlights and Concerns for Law Enforcement Practitioners

• In Event: Examining the Effectiveness of Approaches with Different Offender Populations

Abstract

This paper presentation is a critical and in-depth analysis of issues directly affecting law enforcement, community-based practitioners and the courts on handling, prosecution and administration of punishment for radicalized fundamentalist terrorists in the United States. Upon initial examination, criminal justice and social science practitioners must consider important questions, especially when identifying homegrown extremism: who becomes radicalized, why, and how does the indoctrination process work? This presentation begins with an overview of specific differences found with international terrorists and home grown radicalized terrorists in the United States. An overview of cases will give different perspectives on how criminal cases vary widely in the United States presenting unique concerns for the criminal justice system. An assessment of court patterns, sentencing structures and penalties are examined as well as current statistics and pressures affecting the criminal justice system. A discussion of current deprogramming strategies are looked at and its impact on shifting radicalized behavior. Recommendations focus on shifts in sentencing goals and the challenges faced with punishment and mitigation for the courts; information sharing strategies, on-going training as well as a look into new collaborative efforts being experimented within different agencies in the criminal justice system.

Authors

• Cathryn Lavery, Iona College

• David T Mulcahy, Iona College