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The Terrorism Recidivism Study (TRS): An Update on Data Collection and Results

17 February 2022
De-radicalisationPrevention

Journal Abstract

The Terrorist Recidivism Study (TRS) database, first created in 2018, records individuals convicted of terrorism-related offenses in the United States post-9/11. The TRS is a longitudinal database, tracking offenders’ pre–and post-release behavior over time. This article presents results from the most recent update to the database. Specifically, it examines recidivism rates for offenders prosecuted between 2001 and 2020 (N=629). Results indicate that 20 individuals recidivated during the study, including both pre–and post-release. Of the 354 who were released, 11 or approximately 3.1 percent re-offended. Although this is a higher rate than reported in the original 2018 data (1.6 percent), it is still significantly lower than rates found among conventional or apolitical offenders. The results support the proposition that recidivism among extremists is notably low, even with an extended period of observation, indicating that extremists may have a low propensity for re-offending.

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