Terrorist recruitment and prison radicalization: Assessing the UK experiment of ‘separation centres’

Abstract

Although correctional institutions are supposed to be strong partners in de-radicalization and disengagement from violence, prisons have historically played an instrumental role in many radical organizations, enabling recruitment of new followers. Recent examples from Europe and the Middle East demonstrate that prisons frequently facilitate the spread of Islamist ideology by providing inmates a platform to forge alliances, exchange experience and recruit potential attackers. Because policies regarding management of terrorism-related offenders can either mitigate or exacerbate the risks of prison radicalization, it is important to evaluate their strengths and weaknesses. This article examines strategies for dealing with Islamism in prisons worldwide (dispersal, containment and mixed approach), focusing on best practices, and assesses the United Kingdom’s experiment of ‘separation centres’ from the point of view of its potential to tackle the spread of Islamism in prisons.