Recognizing the Process of Radicalizing to Violence
Recognizing The Process of Radicalizing to Violence
The United States Department of Home Land Security encourages having a prevention framework in place which can help to identify and prevent targeted violence. An important component of that frame work is educating people to recognize individuals who may be radicalizing and provide intervention that may help prevent targeted violence. Radicalizing to violence is the process wherein an individual comes to believe that the threat or use of unlawful violence is necessary or even justified to accomplish a goal.
Prevention is not prediction. However, evidence-based research on individuals who carry out acts of targeted violence demonstrates that regardless of whether the attacks were acts of workplace violence, domestic violence, school-based violence, or terrorism, similar themes are evident among the perpetrators. A 2018 U.S. Secret Service National Threat Assessment Center (NTAC) review of mass attacks in public spaces found:
- Most of the attackers utilized firearms, and half departed the site on their own or committed suicide.
- Half were motivated by a grievance related to a domestic situation, workplace, or other personal issue.
- Two-thirds had histories of mental health symptoms, including depressive, suicidal, and psychotic symptoms.
- Nearly all had at least one significant stressor within the last five years, and over half had indications of financial instability in that timeframe.
- Nearly all made threatening or concerning communications and more than three-quarters elicited concern from others prior to carrying out their attacks. (18)
Over the past five years, Federal and SLTT officials have worked closely with academia, mental health professionals, educators, and faith leaders to better understand the threat we face and develop strategies to address it (19). The results of these efforts—through pilot and grant programs, and research studies—tell us that prevention works. It can save lives. The best way DHS can enhance the efficacy of prevention programs is by taking a whole-of-society approach, working with our Federal and SLTT partners to employ strategic frameworks that integrate various programs to increase community resiliency and reduce the number of individuals likely to radicalize to violent extremism, while identifying and intervening with individuals (“off-ramping”) before violent or criminal acts occur.
An aware society is the best foundation for preventing terrorism and targeted violence. Peers are best positioned to recognize individuals exhibiting signs of radicalization to violent extremism and mobilization to violence, but the Federal Government is best positioned to generate the evidence-based research that identifies risk factors, behaviors, and other information that informs this awareness.
The University of Montana has a Behavioral Intervention Team (BIT) This is a campus-wide team of appointed professionals responsible for identifying, assessing, and responding to serious concerns and/or disruptive behaviors by students who may threaten the health or safety of the campus community. In addition to these services, you can find a very informative Faculty / Staff Guide titled How to Help a Student of Concern. This informative guide can be down loaded as a word document or PDF and is an excellent resource for dealing with difficult situations.
Anyone may make a referral should they have concerns about any student, staff or faculty member and the BIT will conduct an evaluation. To submit a referral use the link to the BIT referral form below.
18 National Threat Assessment Center, Mass Attacks in Public Spaces – 2018 (Washington, DC: U.S. Secret Service, July 2019), p. 2.
19 DHS requested the Homeland Security and Operational Analysis Center (HSOAC) to examine past and current terrorism prevention efforts and explore options to strengthen terrorism prevention going forward. The resulting study, Practical Terrorism Prevention, informed the development of and provides context for the objectives and priority actions within Goal 3. The study can be found at: https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR2647.html