Violent Extremism in Prisons
Published February 25, 2019
As radicalization to violent extremism continues to occur in prison settings, it is important for all actors in the criminal justice system to understand WHY prisons may encourage this progression and HOW to manage and prevent it. We are excited to share resources from an RTC instructor for those who are interested in learning more about this topic.
Countries around the world face threats of violent extremism every day, resulting in increased efforts to counter violent extremist groups and mitigate their associated risks. The success of these counter efforts consequently leads to the imprisonment of violent extremists, posing a great challenge for prison administration and staff. Insufficient resources frequently impact a staff’s ability to appropriately assess and manage their prisoners, especially those who may be vulnerable to radicalization. Obligated to ensure the secure and safe custody of their prisoners, prison authorities need guidance on handling violent extremist prisoners without undermining fundamental human rights.
As radicalization to violent extremism continues to occur in prison settings, it is important for all actors in the criminal justice system to understand WHY prisons may encourage this progression and HOW to manage and prevent it. Last month, the RTC hosted a course on Countering Violent Extremism in Prisons. The brilliant instructor that delivered the course kindly provided two key resources for those who are interested in learning more about this topic:
Developed by the Global Counterterrorism Forum’s CVE Working Group, this memorandum provides a list of good practices that are intended to inform and guide countries on prison-based rehabilitation programs.
This handbook is the very first United Nations technical guidance tool addressing radicalization to violent extremism in prison settings. It provides practical guidance on how to prevent prisoners from becoming radicalized and how to manage, disengage and reintegrate existing violent extremist prisoners.
For those who do not have enough time to read the entire handbook, the UNODC also published a summary of the key principles and recommendations for the management of violent extremist prisoners and the prevention of radicalization to violence in prisons.
The RTC would like to express our gratitude for all alumni who work to ensure the safety and order of prisons across West Africa. Thank you!