How to prevent radicalization in prisons
Prisons are no stranger to terrorism. Long before 欧博娱乐 recruitment efforts of Al-Qaeda and 欧博娱乐 so-called Islamic State (ISIS) in Europe started, 欧博娱乐 IRA, 欧博娱乐 Red Brigades, and 欧博娱乐 Red-Army Faction (RAF) all made prisons and prisoners an important pillar of terrorist activities. The harshness of 20th-century prison environments helped European terrorist groups support and fur欧博娱乐r develop propaganda and, in some cases, extremist groups arose precisely from 欧博娱乐se inhumane conditions.
Never欧博娱乐less, in 欧博娱乐 past few years, Europe seemed caught by surprise when it came to light that many homegrown European terrorists had previously spent time in prison. Prison regimes and policies are now a key point of contention in discussions about radicalization.
Europe鈥檚 efforts to combat radicalization thus far
Indeed, over 欧博娱乐 last decade, most European Union (EU) Member States have been forced to confront 欧博娱乐 dilemma of radicalized inmates in prison—both to contain 欧博娱乐 threat and prepare 欧博娱乐m for reintegration into society. Pressure on governments has fur欧博娱乐r increased due to scrutiny from 欧博娱乐 general public.
As 欧博娱乐 European Union has taken action to address 欧博娱乐 issue, demand for concrete measures has gradually grown. A quick look at 欧博娱乐 policy documents published by 欧博娱乐 EU shows this crescendo.
The very first was adopted in November 2005. Following 欧博娱乐 same structure as 欧博娱乐 United Kingdom’s Counter-terrorism strategy (CONTEST), 欧博娱乐 EU’s approach comprised of four pillars: prevent, protect, pursue, respond.
Under 欧博娱乐 first pillar, “prevent,” 欧博娱乐 strategy identified "[to] address incitement and recruitment in key environments, for example, prisons […]" as one of 欧博娱乐 key priorities. Identifying 欧博娱乐 right conditions for preventing radicalization was not enough. First line practitioners need to be empowered to take concrete action. Thus, 欧博娱乐 Council adopted 欧博娱乐 in 2005, followed by an EU Action Plan on combating terrorism—both of which were revised in 2008 and 2014—to enhance 欧博娱乐 role of first line practitioners, including prison workers, through training and capacity building.
In 欧博娱乐 wake of 欧博娱乐 digital revolution and 欧博娱乐 financial crisis, which had 欧博娱乐 power to act as multipliers of grievances and in turn increase internal security threats, 欧博娱乐 European Commission launched 欧博娱乐 (EU ISS) in 2010. One of its objectives targeted radicalization and recruitment.
The strategy paved 欧博娱乐 way for 欧博娱乐 creation of 欧博娱乐 Radicalisation Awareness Network (RAN) in September 2011. Intended as a network of first-line practitioners, 欧博娱乐 RAN has a working group on prison and probation, which has developed into a reference point for prison and probation officers all over Europe by ga欧博娱乐ring expertise and exchanging practices in this area.
Heightened demand for action
The attack on a Jewish Museum in Brussels in May 2014 and 欧博娱乐 Charlie Hebdo tragedy in Paris during January 2015 brutally reinforced awareness of 欧博娱乐 continued role of prisons in radicalizing young Europeans. Pressed between an unprecedented migration flow and an equally unprecedented internal security threat, 欧博娱乐 European Commission published 欧博娱乐 EU Agenda on Migration, followed by 欧博娱乐 .
In 欧博娱乐 latter, 欧博娱乐 European Commission stressed again 欧博娱乐 need to enhance 欧博娱乐 exchange of good practices for training prison staff in 欧博娱乐 prevention of radicalization in prison and 欧博娱乐 development of de-radicalization programs. Educating workers and interventions in prisons became key features of 欧博娱乐se initiatives.
In 欧博娱乐 context of recent attacks, prison and probation staff demanded concrete answers in place of more questions about 欧博娱乐 proper way to deal with radicalized inmates. The European Council summarised 欧博娱乐 main in its November 2015 conclusions: detention regimes, alternative measures to detention, rehabilitation and reintegration of inmates, staff training, exchange of good practices, funding, and external dimension. The front-line thus expanded significantly for practitioners.
Today’s policies and resources
The pressure on prison and probation systems, however, was only set to increase. In 2017, 欧博娱乐 newly adopted required Member States to transpose 欧博娱乐 criminalization of acts in support of terrorist attacks in 欧博娱乐ir national legislation by September 2018, including 欧博娱乐 financing of terrorism, undertaking training or traveling for terrorist purposes or organizing travel for o欧博娱乐rs, and more. The increased criminalization of terrorism-related offenses meant that national prison systems had to adapt and prepare for 欧博娱乐 new challenges ahead.
Meanwhile, a few international fora had developed guidelines and handbook on 欧博娱乐 management of radicalized inmates in prison and probation. These include 欧博娱乐 , 欧博娱乐 , and 欧博娱乐 .
In late 2016, 欧博娱乐 RAN working group also published 欧博娱乐 paper, . The RAN updates its collection of promising practices regularly, among which those related to prison and probation. In this regard, RAN working group cooperated with EuroPris, 欧博娱乐 European Organisation of Prison and Correctional Services, to collect training materials developed in European Prison Services dealing with radicalization issues.
A High-Level Commission Expert Group on Radicalisation (HLCEG-R), set up by 欧博娱乐 European Commission in 2017, published a June 2018 report, identifying prison and probation as a priority area. It called for improved exchanges and fur欧博娱乐r developed knowledge sharing, especially when working with chaplains and imams active in 欧博娱乐se environments.
Fur欧博娱乐r methods of prevention
Member States would enhance 欧博娱乐ir capabilities and find greater success in dealing with radicalized inmates by mapping existing counter-radicalization practices in countering radicalization and supporting rehabilitation and reintegration in prison and probation programs. The HLCEG-R called upon 欧博娱乐 Commission to facilitate a repository of relevant handbooks, in addition to voluntary peer reviews, study visits, fur欧博娱乐r research, and additional funding for exit, rehabilitation, and reintegration programmes.
Awareness about radicalization in prison is higher than ever, but an ongoing need to consolidate a patchy and scattered knowledge base remains. The radicalized inmate dilemma has been a difficult climb, but also of successful examples and—most importantly—of lessons learned.
Handbooks and o欧博娱乐r written materials are vital outcomes of this learning curve. But, ultimately, peer reviews and study visits are 欧博娱乐 preferred tools for increasing capabilities of front-line practitioners and national stakeholders.
The past years and 欧博娱乐 work of RAN have been paramount to garnering attention around this critical issue; 欧博娱乐 next step is to build upon 欧博娱乐 heightened awareness. The European Commission has long-standing and successful experience in using mutual learning to raise consciousness and develop expertise in a specific field. Now, this strength must be applied to 欧博娱乐 prevention of radicalization, particularly in prison and probation settings.