An article by Prof. Ioan Durnescu, University of Bucharest.
Against the background of the recent attacks in Europe and elsewhere, knowledge production in the area of radicalisation has intensified in the last 20 years. This movement was enhanced by the setting up of dedicated institutes or centers for studying terrorism or radicalisation (see for instance International Centre for Counter Terrorism – The Hague or International Institute for Counter-Terrorism – Herzlyia etc.). Based on the literature and best practices developed across the globe, different national and transnational bodies have advanced some guidelines on how to prevent or fight terrorism. Moreover, some guidelines addressed the issue of how to use prisons and probation services to support deradicalisation and disengagement from the terrorist actions.
One such example is the Council of Europe Guidelines for prison and probation services regarding radicalisation and violent extremism, adopted in 2016. The Handbook includes numerous chapters that deal with the most pressing issues around radicalisation (e.g. understanding the process of radicalisation, identification of violent extremists etc.). Based on other UN and Council of Europe recommendations, these guidelines acknowledge that in general terms offenders sentenced for terrorist acts should be treated as any other offender. That means that legal guarantees and principles of intervention should also apply to this group. Therefore, targeted interventions should be delivered on an individual base and only after a clear risk and needs assessment. All interventions should have clear objectives and outcomes. Various measures should be in place to facilitate multi-agency cooperation, exchange of information and intelligence. Multi-agency arrangements should be based on formal agreements and have shared objectives, responsibilities and role. Partners should use the same language, knowledge and tools. Data protection and confidentiality should be clearly discussed and agreed on.
In case of post-release supervision, former violent extremists should be supervised based on clear obligations and supervision conditions stated in the law. Care should be taken to avoid a disproportionate response from the probation services and especially for juveniles, rehabilitation activities should prevail.
As violent extremists may experience stigmatisation or social exclusion in their own communities, probation agencies should pay attention and prepare the families and the communities for a good receiving of the former prisoners. Relationships with families and friends should be promoted for the juveniles as long as they are constructive. Interventions from the non-state practitioners, mentors, religious representatives or former violent extremists should be encouraged but carefully organised in terms of selection, monitoring and support. The documents also includes useful information about relevant skills, staff empowerment and training and also useful links to different organisations.
Based on these general principles and the previous literature, some countries have developed comprehensive exit or deradicalisation/disengagement programmes. According to Mehra (2016), there are around eighteen rehabilitation and reintegration programmes for violent extremists. In Europe the most well known one is Deradicalisation – Back on Track initiated in 2012 by the Danish Prison and Probation Service. The core element of this programme is the mentoring scheme that is available to prevent and counteract crime related to extremism, whether it is right-wing, left-wing or religious forms of extremism. Apart from the mentor’s interventions, the programme involves families and social networks that can bring a positive contribution to the social reintegration of former violent extremists. Inter-agency cooperation is also seen as an essential element of the programme. The French programme has four stages and involves multiple actors from state and civil society. The Saudi programme is one of the most comprehensive ones and also has four stages: identification, rehabilitation, re-education and re-socialisation. Besides education and vocational training, inmates also receive religious training that can help former violent extremists develop a more moderate view on the Koran.
At the micro-level, researchers and practitioners have developed several practice models that can work with individuals with an extremist background. Based on interviews with 22 former terrorists, Barrell (2015) put forward the so-called Pro-integration Model of practice that suggests five domains of interventions: social relations, coping, identity, ideology and actions orientation (practical help). This model is holistic and is very close to what probation services in Europe are familiar with. What is important to mention here is that the programme stresses the importance of ideology. Briefly speaking, the ideology is what we think about the world and what we think we ought to do or not. Ideology is to a certain extent the cognitive dimension of our agency; it is what makes us wake up in the morning and do whatever we do. Therefore, ideology is essential to our behaviour. It is like the cognitive part of the cognitive behavioral theories (cognition/feelings/behavior).
Looking at the question posed in the title from this perspective it became obvious that any sustainable disengagement programme cannot ignore the deradicalisation component. Thus, the right answer to the deradicalisation or disengagement question is … both.
For more information about rehabilitation and reintegration programmes, come to Barcelona Summer Course on Radicalisation and Violent Extremism 2018!
Barrell, K, (2015). Pro-integration: disengagement from and life after extremism. Behavioral Sciences of Terrorism and Political Aggression. 7(2): 129-142
Mehra, T. (2016). Foreign Terrorist Fighters: Trends, Dynamics and Policy Responses. ICCT Report.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipiscing elit semper dalar elementum tempus hac tellus libero accumsan.
David Jackson and Jed Stone focus on the use of AI in probation and advocate for investigations to understand the opportunity, address issues and innovate for the good of all.
In March 2024, we paid attention to the study of Steve Pitts and Leo Tigges about Building Probation Capacity . The executive summary of their publication is now available in French and German, including the infographic on capacity building in both languages. Later this year, translations in Italian and Spanish will also be released!
Is the day of a probation officer in Germany similar to the one of someone working in Romania? In the series ‘A day in the life of a probation officer’, we publish articles written by probation officers from different countries in Europe to see if their days look a like or are very different from each other.
‘Providing Mental Health Support to Probation – A European Perspective’ by Charlie Brooker is now available. This book offers an evidence-based exploration of mental health in probation, drawing on research across 27 European countries to provide valuable insights on support mechanisms for individuals on probation.
The publication of EuroVista journals stopped in 2016. On this page you can find the online journals volume 1.1 – 4.2. If you would like to have your research published on the CEP website, please send an email to communication@cep-probation.org.
EuroVista was published up to three times a year by CEP, the Confederation of European Probation. The journal is dedicated to linking research with policy and practice in probation and community justice throughout Europe. EuroVista seeks to share experience of good practice and responses to challenges that may have relevance to many countries across the continent.
EuroVista aims to publish articles that are relevant and accessible to practitioners, managers and policy makers in a wide range of criminal and community justice agencies, especially probation. It is also read by students, researchers, scholars of criminal justice and others who are interested in the subject matter. Whole issues or individual contributions can be downloaded without charge.
Journal on monitoring technology and its use in enhancing public safety. More information on the website of the Civic Research Institute.
Most of the Ukrainian victims of war who take refuge in EU countries are women and children. And these children go to school in their host community, with it becoming one of the first points of contact between the local population and the refugees.
The book ‘The Girl Who Kept Her Eyes Open’ aims to raise awareness among children (7-10 years old) and adults (parents and teachers) of the problems suffered by people fleeing war and their rights.
Through the story of a Ukrainian refugee child meeting a particularly observant little girl in her new school, it shows the importance of paying attention to others in order to recognize the victims of crime – in this case, the victims of war-related crimes – and offer them support.
The Irish Probation Journal aims to provide a forum for sharing theory and practice, increasing co-operation and learning and developing debate about work with offenders. The journal is supported by the Probation Board for Northern Ireland (PBNI) and the Irish Probation Service.
JUSTICE TRENDS is a premium printed and online magazine that features exclusive content such as interviews with Ministers of Justice, Directors General of prison and probation administrations, as well as articles on pressing current criminal justice topics globally.
“I, who had it figured out!” is a memoir by Patrick O’Dea, a social worker who has worked in the Probation Service for twenty years, followed by 17 years in the Social Work School of Trinity College Dublin. Now, he works part-time at University College Dublin. The book reflects on O’Dea’s 40-year journey in social work, including his time as a teacher at Trinity College, Dublin. It explores his experiences in 1970s Ireland, his commitment to the ideals of social work, and the impact of his profession on real lives. The memoir has received endorsements for its wisdom and insight from notable figures in the field of social work.
