Why Prisons Provide an Ideal Environment for Radicalization: Deterring Recruitment - Report Example

Why Prisons Provide an Ideal Environment for Radicalization; Deterring Recruitment Affiliation Why PrisonsProvide an Ideal Environment for Radicalization; Deterring Recruitment Abstract The essay address the issues of radicalization, as well as, how the prisons or correctional facilities provide a good environment for recruiting. The essay begins with an introduction that gives insight on the meaning of radicalization. It further discusses the reasons prison create an ideal environment for radicalization. This is then followed by recommendations on ways to deter recruitment in prisons. Further, the essay answers questions on recommendations provided in relation to challenges and opportunities in the workplace, disadvantaged communities, as well as, the international context. A conclusion is provided to summarize the issues addressed in the essay. Introduction Radicalization can be defined as the process by which a group or an individual comes to adopt progressive and extreme social, political or religious aspirations. It also focuses on the ideals that undermine the status quo or expressions of freedom of choice and contemporary ideas. Radicalization is said to be lethal because it satisfies the individual in terms of spiritual and material needs, thus, becoming a sociological trap, which give them no option to opt out. Radicalization has become a major issue in the US. The Federal government is making efforts to prevent terrorists from entering the country, however, they also have to deal with the rise in domestic terrorist cells, which has not yet been linked to the terrorist groups and has become a threat to the homeland security. This essay will examine why prison cells instead of deterring criminals are creating a good environment for radicalization. Why prison creates an ideal environment for recruitment The United States Correctional facilities have become a place where inmates can form radicalized groups, which have in turn become a threat to the national security. For example, the correctional facilities have seen the radicalization and recruitment of groups such as the Aryan Brotherhood, the Mexican Mafia and the white supremacist group (O’Connor & Perreyclear, 2002). The inmates who join these radicalized groups are indoctrinated with hateful ideologies, especially on the government, which in turn incites them into committing violent or heinous acts against humanity. The process of recruitment and radicalization to the Jihadist terrorist violence is very complex. This is because it reflects on a combination of a person’s circumstances and ideological motivations (Trout, 2007). Additionally, personal issues such as a person feeling as if they do not fit in in the society, as well as, political causes are also paired in the radicalization process. It is clear that the reason prisons or correctional facilities form an ideal environment for radicalization, because some of the inmates have personal crises and they feel that getting out of prison is of no use since they have nowhere to go. For that reason, they find solace through this groups whereby they are provided for spiritually and materially, in that their sociological needs are fulfilled (Warren & Krikorian, 2005). Secondly, joining the radicalized groups in the correctional facilities gives these individuals or group of people the opportunity to have a sense of belonging. Being involved in these terrorist groups is viewed as an opportunity for the inmates to have an adventure and also an opportunity to gain status in a subculture that only thinks of exalting violence. Therefore, in order to overcome the perceived personal humiliation of being incarcerated and to prove manliness and to demonstrate prowess, the inmates join the radicalized groups in order to be perceived as warriors in an epic struggle (Richardson, 2006). This shows that for those individuals who lack a sense of belonging, they see that joining Jihad and other terrorist groups as a good opportunity for them as it offers camaraderie (Thomas & Zaitzow, 2004). Prison inmates always feel powerless because their freedom has been taken away and the violent action of the terrorist group offers them the secret pleasure of power and surreptitious feeling that brings along the decision to kill. It has been established that there are thousands of non-Judeo- Christian’s religious groups in the United States correctional facilities. According to a research conducted on how radicalization and recruitment in the prison cells happens, it was established that many of the prisoners who are incarcerated have little or no religious calling, but when they are in prison they are converted as a means to find solace (U.S. Department of Justice, 2006). According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, prisoner who lack any religious affiliation are the ones who are vulnerable to terrorist recruitment. All intelligence officers are in agreement that most inmates are radicalized by fellow radical inmates and there are no outside influences as the government has done its best to ensure those terrorist groups do not cross the United States boarders (Waller, 2003). For the inmates religious involvement is seen as the only alternative they have to prisoner adaptations such as withdrawal, conning, aggression, passivity and predatory violence. Another reason prisons create an ideal environment for radicalization is that, prisoners live in a closed and isolated community meaning that non-traditional religions become more prominent than they are in the society; hence, providing great membership options for the prisoners than the traditional religions. Deterring recruitment To address the issues of how radicalization has become a major theme in the United States prisons, it is important to understand how the process works in the prison cells. Secondly , it would be prudent to separate known terrorists from other prisoners and separating them from other hardcore radicals, as well as, moving them from one institution to another in order to disrupt their social network (Wiktorowicz, 2005). Surveillance should be done on those convicts that have not renounced radicalization, which can in turn provide proper information on the plots of the radical groups within and outside the prison walls. Additionally, the convicts should be trained in prison cells on reintegrating in the society in order to make them feel a sense of belonging; hence, deterring them from joining the radical groups. The recent view of prison is that; it is a place of recruitment and radicalization, thus giving it a negative aspect (Strozier, 2007). However, prison can be a place where issues of radicalizing and terrorism can be tackled to help the society to become a better place. These recommendations foster operations in the diverse workplace, in the sense that it creates awareness on the issues that are being faced by the United States in relation to increased number of radicalized groups in prison. Additionally, it is an eye opener where people manage to understand the reason radicalized individuals use the prison as a place for recruitment. By so doing, it allows individuals in a diverse workplace environment to work together to come up with solutions that will deal with terrorists and other radicalized groups. The prisoners can be said to be a disadvantaged community or population because their freedom of liberty has been stripped off, and they need a place to find solace. For that reason, instead of allowing the radicalized inmates to influence those who are not radicalized, the correctional institution should find a priest who will help them in walking through the traditional religious paths. By so doing, it will reduce the number of inmates being recruited by the radicalized groups. The challenge for this recommendation is that the correctional facilities do not have adequate funds to keep an eye on the inmates all the time. The process requires a lot of manpower to keep surveillance on the inmates. Additionally, moving the inmates from one place to another would be a challenge, despite the fact that it would work in toning down the social networks in the prison cells (Seper, 2004). The opportunities that are created by this policy recommendation is that there will be a reduced number of inmates who are recruited and radicalized in the prison cells, thus, reducing aggression and violence to the public. In an International context the policy would be essential in ensuring that such issues of radicalization and recruitment do not become a problem for all the countries. Conclusion Prison should be a place where crime and other heinous acts done by criminals are deterred. It should not be a place where terrorists are made as it will create chaos in the society. Therefore, the department of Homeland Security should work towards ensuring that these groups are stopped by adding more sentences to people found recruited by inmates into radical groups. Therefore, although these groups allow the prisoners to integrate; their roots should be broken to ensure that they not grow into something that will destroy the national security. Thus, the Department of Homeland Security should come up with ways to ensure that the growth of radical groups decreases. References O’Connor,T.P. & Perreyclear, M (2002). “Prison Religion in Action and Its Influence on Offender Rehabilitation.” Journal of Offender Rehabilitation, 35: 11-34. Richardson, L. (2006). What Terrorists Want: Understanding the Enemy, Containing the Threat. New York: Random House. Seper, J. (2004) “Prisons Breeding Ground for Terror?” The Washington Times, May 6 Strozier, C. (2007). Political Radicalization and the Potential for Recruitment to Terrorism Among Converted Blacks in Prison in the United States. Project Narrative presented to the Department of Homeland Security. Thomas, J & Zaitzow, B.H (2004). “Conning or Conversion? The Role of Religion in Prison Coping.” The Prison Journal, 86: 242-259. Trout, C. (2007). “The Correctional Intelligence Initiative (CII): Preventing Prison Radicalization.” Presentation at the American Correctional Association 137th annual Congress of Corrections, Kansas City, Mo. August 1 U.S. Department of Justice (2006). The Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Monitoring of Mail for High-Risk Inmates. Washington, D.C.: Office of the Inspector General, Evaluation and Inspections Division. Report Number I-2006-009. Waller, M. (2003). Terrorist Recruitment and Infiltration in the United States: Prisons and Military as an Operational Base. Testimony before the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary, October 14. Warren, J. & Krikorian, G (2005). “Authorities Investigate Radical Prison Gang.” Los Angeles Times, September 4 Wiktorowicz, Q. (2005). Radical Islam Rising: Muslim Extremism in the West. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield. Read More