Evaluation of prison de-radicalization practices and risk assessment tools in Germany

Abstract

Drawing on semi-structured interviews and focus groups with German prison managers, frontline officers, social workers, and religious representatives, this study investigates the practical reality of radicalization in German correctional facilities. The findings reveal that while the political and media environment treats prison radicalization as an urgent crisis, practitioners view it as a relatively small, manageable phenomenon. The report highlights concerns regarding the disproportionate focus on Islamism over right-wing extremism and explores practitioner resistance toward rigid risk assessment instruments.

Key data / Highlights

Exaggerated threat perception: Practitioners report that active recruitment and radicalization inside German prisons occur far less frequently than public and political debates suggest.
Disproportionate focus on Islamist extremism: Interviewees noted a systemic bias where Islamist radicalization receives significantly more institutional attention than right-wing extremism.
Resistance to standardized assessment grids: Frontline staff often view rigid risk tools as bureaucratic burdens that fail to capture the nuanced realities of inmate behavior.
Public pressure shaping administrative decisions: Prison administrators operate under intense political scrutiny, leading to risk-averse management decisions driven by fear of high-profile incidents.