Risk and Rehabilitation: Supporting the Work of Probation Officers in the Community Reentry of Extremist Offenders

This study examined the specific challenges that individuals with ties to extremism face when reintegrating into their communities after arrest or incarceration and how to support probation officers working with this population. The researchers found that recidivism rates were more than twice as high for the individuals prosecuted by state or local authorities (26.4%) compared to those who were prosecuted in federal courts (13.1%). Among individuals who recidivated, 59.2% committed new extremist crimes, 27.9% committed non-ideologically motivated crimes, and 12.9% committed both. The study found an exceptionally low rate of recidivism among individuals who committed crimes linked to their support of, or involvement in, international jihadism (7.7%), but a notably higher (19.8%) recidivism rate among individuals involved in domestic extremism. Individuals motivated by their opposition to abortion reoffended at the highest rate (44.2%), followed by individuals motivated by environmental and animal rights concerns (27.3%). White supremacists and those with anti-government belief had recidivism rates of 18.9% and 16.1%, respectively. The most important risk factor associated with recidivism is the presence of a criminal record prior to an individual radicalizing to their first extremist offense. Most of the officers researchers spoke with did not receive formal training in working with system-involved individuals with ties to extremism, though most officers reported participating in trainings provided through informal mechanisms. Officers reported having a strong desire for more training specifically focused on extremism. More research is needed on risk and protective factors as they related to recidivism in the population of individuals who have committed extremist crimes. It is especially important to establish what impact intensive supervision has on recidivism rates in this population. Addressing the challenges of post-incarceration reintegration in this population will require a multidisciplinary approach. Probation officers, service providers, and system-involved individuals should be involved in helping design and conduct research on this topic.