Incidence of ideologically influenced threatening and violent activity in rural communities

This research involves a mixed-methods study (specifically, concurrent mixed methods explanatory design) of cases along a continuum of targeted violence and compares those that include an ideological influence with those that do not. The goal of this effort is to inform the evolving threat landscape in the United States by focusing on how ideologically influenced threatening, and aggressive behavior are identified in real-time by community professionals operating in low-resourced, rural areas. The sample includes 100 to 150 record/case reviews from two years of prior cases and two years of prospective cases (2020-2023) identified in real-time by law enforcement, mental health, and schools in rural areas. Cases will be distinguished as those that meet the criteria for potential targeted violence (i.e., harassment, threats, stalking, etc.) and a control group (a random proportional sample of non-ideologically- influenced cases). The qualitative aspect of the study will include interviews of frontline and supervisory staff from each partner agency (i.e., law enforcement personnel, school threat assessment personnel, and mental health crisis team members), with an emphasis on interviewing individuals who are making decisions about flagging records for presence or absence of ideologically influenced activity. Implications for policy and practice include ways to identify potential terrorists early, driving the development of prevention strategies that can be implemented by local authorities when individuals come to their attention after exhibiting lower-level targeted violence behaviors. "Note: This project contains a research and/or development component, as defined in applicable law," and complies with Part 200 Uniform Requirements - 2 CFR  200.210(a)(14). CA/NCF