Radicalisation Prevention and Deradicalisation in Prison and Probation
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Germany
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Name
Radicalisation Prevention and Deradicalisation in Prison and Probation |
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Target audience
Violent extremists (right-wing and religiously motivated) |
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Organisation
VPN |
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Objectives
Support youngsters and adults in their effort to live responsibly and non-violently, detached from inhumane ideologies |
Description
VPN is a group of experienced specialists who have been successfully engaged in the prevention of extremism, as well as in the de-radicalisation of criminals motivated by extremism. Since 2001, the VPN team has been working successfully to reduce ideologically- and religiously motivated, serious crime and extreme acts of violence committed by young people or adults. By way of its long-standing work with right-wing extremist youth and those in danger of joining Islamism, the VPN team has acquired expertise in the field of working with ideologically motivated criminal offenders that is recognised throughout Europe.
Goal
The goal of ‘Radicalisation Prevention and Deradicalisation in Prison and Probation’ (formerly known as ‘Taking Responsibility – Breaking away from Violence and Hate’) is to trigger dissociation from violence-affirming and extremist attitudes and violent behaviour in the participants. Specifically, it seeks to teach the participants to recognise the dignity and integrity of others, use non-violent ways of resolving conflicts, take responsibility for their actions and future planning, and distance themselves from extremist and anti-democratic ideologies.
Method: Education of Responsibility
VPN’s certified deradicalisation programme (Anti-violence-and-competence-training – AKT®) includes preventive and intervening elements to meet the holistic aspiration and target different levels of radicalisation that exist in training programmes. The programme is guided by the ‘Education of Responsibility’ (Verantwortungspädagogik®) concept: Acceptance and avoidance of humiliation. In this method, VPN has identified a way to address people who have affiliated themselves with anti-democratic structures without humiliating them, thus facilitating their re-integration into the democratic community.
Main target groups
The first target group is people detained for committing ideologically or religiously driven acts of violence (right-wing and religiously motivated extremism): offenders at risk of influence from extremist groups, offenders undergoing a process of radicalisation and radicalised offenders.
Trainers and trainees develop a reliable relationship based on confidence and respect. Participation is voluntary. The methodology involves three phases: the training (Phase 1) is the core of the programme, carried out by two trainers. It either takes place as individual training or in juvenile prisons in the form of group training. The learning objectives of the participants in both types of training are as follows:
The training is followed by the transition management (Phase 2). Its purpose is to maintain contact between the trainer and the participant during the period between the end of the training and release from prison. It is a support system tailored to individual needs and prepares for the expected challenges and problems after release from prison. A phase of self-doubt and reflection on one’s own patterns of thought and behaviour as part of the training programme in prison is followed by the actual implementation of the targeted change after release from prison, stabilisation coaching – reintegration (Phase 3). Especially in this phase, the participants are still dependent on support. The stabilisation coaching, the optional support after release, represents the continuation of the training programme after imprisonment. It helps enshrine the newly learned conflict resolution strategies in everyday life and to distance oneself from extremist ideologies and group structures. It lasts 6 to 12 months per individual.
The second (indirect) target group is staff, professionals and multipliers in correctional facilities and the probationary system. This refers to people who come into contact with the first target group in their professional environment. In addition to specific counselling, training courses are offered to facilitate recognition of extremist lines of argumentation and possible strategies for the resolution and/or diffusion of these lines of argumentation. The goal is to enable multipliers to establish, maintain and endure the dialogue with the target groups.
Standards and quality criteria
In partnership with the cooperating entities, VPN coordinates the joint development of nationwide standards and quality criteria for radicalisation prevention and deradicalisation in correctional facilities and the probationary system. In addition, VPN regularly organises specialist conferences and information events on specific topics.
VPN is a group of experienced specialists who have been successfully engaged in the prevention of extremism, as well as in the de-radicalisation of criminals motivated by extremism. Since 2001, the VPN team has been working successfully to reduce ideologically- and religiously motivated, serious crime and extreme acts of violence committed by young people or adults. By way of its long-standing work with right-wing extremist youth and those in danger of joining Islamism, the VPN team has acquired expertise in the field of working with ideologically motivated criminal offenders that is recognised throughout Europe.
Goal
The goal of ‘Radicalisation Prevention and Deradicalisation in Prison and Probation’ (formerly known as ‘Taking Responsibility – Breaking away from Violence and Hate’) is to trigger dissociation from violence-affirming and extremist attitudes and violent behaviour in the participants. Specifically, it seeks to teach the participants to recognise the dignity and integrity of others, use non-violent ways of resolving conflicts, take responsibility for their actions and future planning, and distance themselves from extremist and anti-democratic ideologies.
Method: Education of Responsibility
VPN’s certified deradicalisation programme (Anti-violence-and-competence-training – AKT®) includes preventive and intervening elements to meet the holistic aspiration and target different levels of radicalisation that exist in training programmes. The programme is guided by the ‘Education of Responsibility’ (Verantwortungspädagogik®) concept: Acceptance and avoidance of humiliation. In this method, VPN has identified a way to address people who have affiliated themselves with anti-democratic structures without humiliating them, thus facilitating their re-integration into the democratic community.
Main target groups
The first target group is people detained for committing ideologically or religiously driven acts of violence (right-wing and religiously motivated extremism): offenders at risk of influence from extremist groups, offenders undergoing a process of radicalisation and radicalised offenders.
Trainers and trainees develop a reliable relationship based on confidence and respect. Participation is voluntary. The methodology involves three phases: the training (Phase 1) is the core of the programme, carried out by two trainers. It either takes place as individual training or in juvenile prisons in the form of group training. The learning objectives of the participants in both types of training are as follows:
- Accepting the fundamental right to human dignity and integrity of every human being;
- Understanding and changing their own violent behaviour;
- Taking responsibility for their actions;
- Developing a distance to extremism and inhuman ideologies;
- Solving conflicts without violence;
- Planning the future on their own.
The training is followed by the transition management (Phase 2). Its purpose is to maintain contact between the trainer and the participant during the period between the end of the training and release from prison. It is a support system tailored to individual needs and prepares for the expected challenges and problems after release from prison. A phase of self-doubt and reflection on one’s own patterns of thought and behaviour as part of the training programme in prison is followed by the actual implementation of the targeted change after release from prison, stabilisation coaching – reintegration (Phase 3). Especially in this phase, the participants are still dependent on support. The stabilisation coaching, the optional support after release, represents the continuation of the training programme after imprisonment. It helps enshrine the newly learned conflict resolution strategies in everyday life and to distance oneself from extremist ideologies and group structures. It lasts 6 to 12 months per individual.
The second (indirect) target group is staff, professionals and multipliers in correctional facilities and the probationary system. This refers to people who come into contact with the first target group in their professional environment. In addition to specific counselling, training courses are offered to facilitate recognition of extremist lines of argumentation and possible strategies for the resolution and/or diffusion of these lines of argumentation. The goal is to enable multipliers to establish, maintain and endure the dialogue with the target groups.
Standards and quality criteria
In partnership with the cooperating entities, VPN coordinates the joint development of nationwide standards and quality criteria for radicalisation prevention and deradicalisation in correctional facilities and the probationary system. In addition, VPN regularly organises specialist conferences and information events on specific topics.