Across the Universe? A Comparative Analysis of Violent Behavior and Radicalization Across Three Offender Types with Implications for Criminal Justice Training and Education

Publication Date: 2016
Tag(s): active shooter, active threat, behavioral threat assessment, mass casualty incident, threat assessment
Author(s): J. Silver, Paul Gill, Ph.D., Noemie Bouhana, Ph.D., John G. Horgan, Ph.D., James Silver, J.D., Ph.D., Emily Corner, MSc., National Institute of Justice (NIJ)
Abstract: This report examined whether any differences exist between lone actor terrorists and mass murderers. Using a series of bivariate and multivariate statistical analyses, researchers compared demographic, psychological and offense-related behavioral variables across and between 71 lone actor terrorists and 115 solo mass murderers. The fundamental distinction between the two groups, motivation, dictates different actuation points for violence. The results suggest that both offenders are very similar in terms of their behaviors. This in turn suggests that similar threat and risk assessment frameworks may be applicable to both types of offenders. The report includes risk factors related to lone actor violent events and more than a dozen case studies.