Managing the Exit of Incarcerated Violent Extremists in the Community: Perspectives from Involved Individuals

• In Event: Coping with Radicalization and Managing Exit and Reintegration

Abstract

This study investigates the perspectives of formerly incarcerated and former extremism-involved individuals on how to best manage and support the reintegration of federally incarcerated extremists. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with formerly incarcerated individuals, including some who now work in reintegration, as well as former extremists, including some who now work in deradicalization and/or disengagement (n=30). These interviews collected information on participants’ (a) pathways into crime or extremism, (b) involvement with criminal or extremist peers, (c) experiences with incarceration, (d) experiences with the reintegration process, (e) experiences with deradicalization, (f) and recommendations for potential resources to assist with the reintegration and deradicalization/disengagement processes. Emergent thematic analysis was used to identify qualitative themes in the data. Findings from the analysis reveal several common themes in people’s deradicalization and reintegration challenges, as well as what worked. Participants mostly agreed on the need for additional support and resources for people trying to reintegrate back into society after incarceration, though there were differing opinions on what to prioritize. These findings give new direction for researchers and practitioners to develop empirically based policies and practices to improve the reintegration process for extremism-involved individuals after their exit from incarceration.

Authors

• Isaac Moelter, University of Nebraska Omaha / NCITE

• Noah Turner, University of Nebraska Omaha / NCITE

• Erin M. Kearns, University of Nebraska Omaha / NCITE

• Sadaf Hashimi, University of Nebraska Omaha

• Zachary Hamilton, University of Nebraska Omaha