CTED Analytical Brief on the management of violent extremist prisoners and the prevention of radicalization to violence in prison
The management of violent extremist prisoners (VEPs) poses major challenges to many United Nations (UN) Member States. At the same time, the detention period represents a unique opportunity to promote disengagement from violence and develop prevention strategies that can reduce the risks of recidivism in the medium- and long-term.
Challenges identified stem from a host of different reasons. First, the scale of the issue is often unknown or, at best, only roughly estimated. Second, violent extremist prisoners are not a homogenous prison population category, and tailored efforts need to be put in place to address specific needs. Third, for the management of VEPs to be effective, many factors need to be taken into consideration and adequate resources be provided.
In resolution , the Security Council acknowledges that “prisons can serve as potential incubators for radicalization to terrorism and terrorist recruitment” and encourages States to “take all appropriate actions to prevent inmates who have been convicted of terrorism-related offences from radicalizing other prisoners to violence, with whom they may come into contact”.
The present Analytical Brief was prepared by CTED in close consultation with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in the context of a project funded by the European Union, the Netherlands, and the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT).
You can download the full report here.
