Domestic Radicalization & Terrorism: Key Findings

SYNTHESIZED FINDINGS FROM NIJ- SPONSORED RESEARCH ON DOMESTIC RADICALIZATION & TERRORISM* Presentation at UTEP Symposium El Paso, Texas August 29, 2023 *This synthesis project was commissioned using Federal funds provided by the U.S. Department of Justice. Opinions or points of view expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.

INTRODUCING THE SYNTHESIS* 40+ GRANTS 4 QUESTIONS 4 SYNTHESIS REPORTS 4 "FIVE THINGS" BROCHURES *Review and synthesis conducted by Kateira Aryaeinejad and Thomas Leo Scherer, PhD (Research Director, fp21)

FOUR TOPICS 1. The Role of Social Networks in Facilitating and Preventing Domestic Radicalization 2. The Role of the Internet and Social Media on Radicalization 3. Evaluating and Assessing Terrorism Prevention Programs 4. Comparative Analysis of Violent Extremists and Other Offender Types

LIMITATIONS AND CAVEATS Studies not necessarily meant to be comparative Mixed information, criteria, and approaches Differences in definitions, time periods, and scope Comparison based on initial framing activities

THE ROLE OF SOCIAL NETWORKS IN FACILITATING AND PREVENTING DOMESTIC RADICALIZATION

FRAMING SOCIAL NETWORKS Organic Social Networks Constructed Social Networks Individual Factors, Perceptions, and Experiences Radicalization Outcomes

5 KEY FINDINGS 1. Radicalization is an inherently social process, even among so-called lone actors. 2. Social isolation from non-extremist groups and the size of extremist groups can both impact radicalization to violence. 3. While important, family connections are not a reliable safeguard against radicalization. 4. Peers have a meaningful influence on pathways both into and out of radicalization. 5. The impact of social networks on both radicalization and disengagement varies.

THE ROLE OF THE INTERNET AND SOCIAL MEDIA ON RADICALIZATION

FRAMING "THE ROLE OF THE INTERNET AND SOCIAL MEDIA" Exploitation Mitigation Engagement Risk

5 KEY FINDINGS 1. The connection between radicalization and the internet is complex and depends on individual and offline factors. 2. Individuals engage with violent extremist materials and online networks for various reasons. 3. Spending more time online and on specific platforms may increase an individual s risk of engaging with hateful content. 4. An individual s online interactions with others may increase their risk of exposure to hateful or potentially radicalizing content. 5. An individual s beliefs, characteristics, and behaviors may increase their risk of exposure to hateful or potentially radicalizing content.

EVALUATING AND ASSESSING TERRORISM PREVENTION PROGRAMS

FRAMING "EVALUATIONS, PROGRAMS, AND CHALLENGES" Evaluation challenges Evaluation approach and findings Program type

5 KEY FINDINGS 1. Community-based terrorism prevention programs should be constructed and implemented in close consultation and coordination with intended beneficiaries. 2. Effective community-based terrorism prevention programs should employ rigorous and proactive collaborations. 3. The impact of terrorism prevention programs can go beyond terrorism prevention itself. 4. Including terrorism prevention in broader violence prevention and public health programming can be more successful than standalone terrorism-prevention programs. 5. Understanding the efficacy, suitability, and impact of community-based terrorism prevention programs is key to achieving policy priorities and serving community needs.

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF VIOLENT EXTREMISTS AND OTHER OFFENDER TYPES

FRAMING COMPARISONS OF DIFFERENT OFFENSE TYPES Violent Extremism: Support for, association with, or participation in violent activities to achieve ideological goals. Violent Extremism Mass Shooting: An event wherein 3 or more victims are murdered by firearms.* a b d Hate/Bias Crime: Criminal offense motivated by bias against a race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, ethnicity, gender, or gender identity. Hate/Bias Crimes Mass Shootings c * Mass shooting definitional criteria based on number of casualties or fatalities may vary

COMPARING DATA PIRUS Violence Project BIAS NHCIS Extremist views and behavior Behavior Mass shootings Hate crimes Hate crimes Existing lists and open-source search PIRUS and open-source searches Method Open-source searches Survey of law enforcement Unknown Access Available by web request Available by web request To be publicly available Size 2,226 172 996 1,230 Time Span 1948-2018 1966-2022 1990-2018 2018

KEY FINDINGS 1. There are similarities in age, sex, employment, and criminal histories. 2. Risk factors may vary across and within each offense type. 3. Assessing risk is a challenge. Variation in characteristics makes it difficult to accurately assess someone s risk of committing these offenses, 4. Risk-mitigation and prevention strategies must be carefully crafted, tailored to the offense type, and catered to the individual. 5. Data limitations may impact our understanding. Media coverage, definitions, and reporting varies.

SELECT CROSS COMPARISON Similarities Differences Violent Extremism, Mass Shooting, & Bias/Hate Crimes Sex Violent Extremism Mass Shooting Bias/Hate Crimes Education Male Varied, higher Higher Varied, lower Age Trauma 20s and 30s N/A Higher Varied, lower Employment Status Mental Health Unemployed Lower Higher Varied, lower Criminal History Military History* Yes Varied Higher Lower Relationship Status Group Affiliations Unmarried Yes N/A Yes

OVERALL FINDINGS & IMPLICATIONS

5 OVERALL KEY TAKEAWAYS 1. Definitions of violent extremism and other offense types matter, but vary, with implications for research, policy, and practice 2. No one-size-fits all profile of radicalization processes or of individuals who radicalize to violence 3. Social networks can play a key role in radicalization processes, including through leakage, but the role is likely impacted by other factors. 4. Challenges and limitations to data continue to impact our understanding 5. Risk does not always equate with propensity, but can be serve as an important area for awareness-based efforts

IMPLICATIONS FOR POLICY & PRACTICE Understanding stigmatization and adopting a holistic lens Gaining buy in, tailoring programs, and addressing community concerns Focusing on behaviors and behavioral motivations Understanding grey areas and complex interactions between individual, social, and environmental factors Addressing leakage and supporting community-based efforts Improving reporting mechanisms and Understanding limitations on data Understanding and deconflicting terrorism prevention's overlap with other social programs and policies

CONCLUDING THOUGHT: THE IMPORTANCE OF LEAKAGE Considering leakage and: Social networks, family, and peers Online engagement Lone and group-affiliated activities Programs for targeted violence prevention

Q&A