Applying Conventional Criminological Findings to Extremist Populations: A Series of Studies by Incarcerated Researchers

Session Submission Type: Complete Thematic Panel

Abstract/Description

This panel consists of a series of empirical studies created and carried out by incarcerated residents in a men’s prison in the Western United States. Each study examines whether conventional criminological findings can be applied to extremist populations, including the presence of a trial tax, the role of key risk factors, and the impact of discriminative narratives. Results indicate that the causes and consequences of political offending differ from apolitical offending, suggesting that criminologists should practice caution when using apolitical findings to describe and understand politically motivated offending. Although the content of the panel is focused on extremism, the unique authorship of the panel will be emphasized and the panel will close with a discussion of the intricacies of working with incarcerated researchers.

Sub Unit

• Area III. Types of Offending / 20. State Crime, Political Crime, and Terrorism

Individual Presentations

• Terrorism and the Trial Tax: The Effect of Plea Bargaining on Extremist Sentencing - David Cevallos, Idaho Department of Corrections; Grace Meyer, University of Cincinnati; Omi Hodwitz, University of Idaho

• Exploring Factors that Facilitate Violent and Nonviolent Extremist Behavior - David A. Cowan, University of Idaho; Avery Slater, University of Idaho; Omi Hodwitz, University of Idaho

• Exploring Media and Criminal Justice Responses to Faith-Based Extremist Offending - Anthony Trammel, University of Idaho; Grace Smith, University of Idaho; Omi Hodwitz, University of Idaho

• Victimization and Abuse: Examining Impacts on Female Extremism - Silas Parks, University of Idaho; Omi Hodwitz, University of Idaho; Kal Wolf, University of Idaho

Chair

• Omi Hodwitz, University of Idaho