Terrorist Offenders Research Articles

Punishing Terrorists

The empirical literature on the theory and practice of sentencing politically motivated offenders such as terrorists in U.S. federal courts is limited. Thus, we know relatively little about the dealings between terrorist offenders and the criminal justice system or how these interactions may be influenced by changes in American legal or political context. This study summarizes previous findings relative to sentencing disparity among terrorists and nonterrorists in U.S. federal courts prior to the imposition of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines. We then identify events occurring after the advent of the guidelines, including the early acts of terrorism on American soil. We evaluate the sentencing of terrorists versus nonterrorists following the confluence imposition of the guidelines and these events. We determine whether and how the sentencing disparity between terrorist and nonterrorist has changed since the implementation of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the terrorist events of the early 1990s. Based on our findings, we put forth suggestions as to the possible ways these conditions may have affected sentencing outcomes.

The use of psychiatric and psychological evidence in the assessment of terrorist offenders

The present paper focuses on the prediction of violent recidivism among individuals convicted of politically motivated violence – terrorism. We argue that the assumptions of general violence prediction models, used in risk assessment procedures with other offenders, do not necessarily apply to terrorist offenders. Subsequently we discuss the assumption of general expertise in mental health professionals in such cases. Furthermore, we describe the role of professionals in this field, their expertise, and the use of psychological and psychiatric evidence. We are particularly concerned about the use of psychometric testing. Finally we make some recommendations about the approach to be used and the expertise required in assessing risk in politically motivated offenders.

The assessment of terrorist offenders: a commentary on the Dernevik et al. article and suggestions for future directions

Following the terrorist attacks on the United States on 11 September 2001, people suspected of terrorist activities are increasingly being arrested, interrogated, and detained in custody (Gelles, M...