ABSTRACT

This chapter presents a model of some of the critical patterns involved in the radicalisation of prison inmates. The model draws particularly on cases from the American prison system. In testing this model against cases of incarcerated inmates who embark on the pathway from initiation radicalisation into potential terrorism, several factors need to be considered. While Phase Is pre-radicalisation personal factors are significant in preparing the ground for potential radicalisation, many of these factors characterise a majority of the inmate population, with very few of them in relative terms likely to turn to terrorist activities upon their release. As a result, prisons have become known as incubators of violent extremism, and large numbers of susceptible inmates throughout the world have become radicalised into violent extremism while incarcerated in prisons, with some of them following their release ending up committing terrorist acts in civilian society.