The Working Alliance in Practice: Navigating Effective Engagement with Violent Extremist Offenders
Keywords:
Exit, Deradicalization, Relationship, Violent Extremist Offenders, Working AllianceAbstract
Establishing trust and building a strong Working Alliance are crucial challenges when working with violent extremist offenders (VEOs). Extensive literature highlights the significance of these elements for effective interventions with this group. However, research has not yet approached the specific steps involved in creating a Working Alliance. This article fills this gap by drawing on in-depth interviews conducted with eight professionals from six European jurisdictions. The article also contrasts insights from practical work with academic state of the art. By offering these insights, the article aims to facilitate the creation of effective Working Alliances and contribute to the academic debates on the disengagement of VEOs.
Acknowledgements
The author is grateful to Willem van der Brugge – former Secretary General of CEP – and Robert Örell – co-leader of RAN – for their help in conducting this piece of research.
This article was written as part of the EU funded project EUTEx: Developing a European framework for disengagement and reintegration of extremist offenders and radicalised individuals in prison, including returning foreign terrorist fighters and their families, project ID: 101035851.
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