Prison radicalization in county jails: disrupting terrorist acts through information sharing

Abstract

Prisons have long been recognized as an environment ripe for radicalization. In some cases, individuals radicalized while in prison have later committed acts of terrorism. While many countries employ deradicalization programs in their prisons, the United States relies on the timely reporting of terrorism-related intelligence from prison officials, in hopes of disrupting the terroristic acts. In 2011, California Governor Jerry Brown enacted a law that prospectively directed thousands of convicted persons to county jails instead of state prison. Inmates can now spend decades in the county jails, where the possibility of traditional prison radicalization may now occur. Evidence indicates that many jails are not prepared to identify and report this activity. Jails typically have no programs or measures in place to counter radicalization. This thesis examines the programs in the federal Bureau of Prisons, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, and the Los Angeles County jail system. Data from these entities was collected and examined for smart practices that could be employed in county jails. Recommendations are made that will assist county jail personnel with developing a program to ensure the timely, accurate, and lawful reporting of radicalization efforts that may take place in their facilities.