A practical study of the prevention of violent extremism.

Violent extremism has galvanized public fear and attention. Driven by their concerns, the public has pushed for law enforcement and mental health systems to prevent attacks rather than just respond to them after they occur. The prevention process requires guidance for practitioners and policymakers on how best to identify people who may be at risk, to understand and assess the nature and function of the harm they may cause, and to manage them to mitigate or prevent harm. Violent Extremism provides such guidance.

Over ten chapters, prepared by leading experts, this handbook illuminates the nature of violent extremism and the evolution of prevention-driven practice. Authors draw on the literature and their experience to explain which factors might increase (risk factors) or decrease (protective factors) risk, how those factors might operate, and how practitioners can prepare risk formulations and scenario plans that inform risk management strategies to prevent violent extremist harm.

Each chapter is crafted to support thoughtful, evidence-based practice that is transparent, accountable, and ultimately defensible. Written for an international audience, the volume will be of interest to law enforcement and mental health professionals, criminal justice and security personnel, as well as criminologists, policymakers, and researchers.
 

Caroline Logan is lead consultant forensic clinical psychologist in the Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust and honorary senior lecturer at the University of Manchester in England. Randy Borum is director of the School of Information (iSchool) and director of intelligence and national security studies at the University of South Florida. Paul Gill is professor of security and crime science at UCL.

List of figures List of tables Notes on contributors List of abbreviations Acknowledgements Introduction Randy Borum, Caroline Logan and Paul Gill 1 Assessing violent extremism: Reflections on the historical context Robert Fein 2 Violent extremism: Theories of cause and development across the extremist spectrum and their relevance to risk assessment and management Paul Gill and Bettina Rottweiler 3 Mapping the terrain: The current state of risk and threat assessment practice in the violent extremism field Randy Borum 4 Risk communication and risk assessment guidance for violent extremism involvement Randy Borum 5 Violence risk/threat assessment and management of extremist violence: The structured professional judgement approach Stephen Hart and Lee Vargen 6 From behaviours to people: Formulation-based risk management in violent extremism Caroline Logan 7 From behaviours to people: Formulation-based risk management in violent extremism Caroline Logan 8 Multiagency strategies to prevent violent extremism: Implementation and evaluation Michele Pathé and Frank Farnham 9 Ethical and legal issues in violent extremism risk and threat assessment and management Ron Schouten 10 Risk assessment and management in violent extremism: Key points and recommendations Caroline Logan, Randy Borum and Paul Gill Index