This brief summarizes research findings on individuals who engage in violent extremism and similar offenses.
This publication summarizes research findings on individuals who engage in violent extremism and similar offenses, including findings of studies funded by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ). These studies have found similarities in age, sex, employment, and criminal histories among such individuals. Risk factors may vary across and within each offense type. Research has also found that assessing risk is a challenge, and risk-mitigation and prevention strategies must be carefully crafted, tailored to the offense type, and catered to the individual. Risk factors fall into categories such as level of education, mental health, military involvement, marital status, and social interactions and grievances.