Critical Releases in Homeland Security: December 9, 2015

"Ensuring the continuous operation of government and the safety of the personnel and citizens who enter government facilities on a daily basis is an essential part of securing our homeland. To enhance prevention efforts in this area, the U.S. Secret Service National Threat Assessment Center studied 43 attacks targeting federal government facilities and officials that occurred between 2001 and 2013 in the United States. These attacks bear an unfortunate resemblance to incidents of violence we see occurring in schools, colleges and universities, workplaces, and other public venues across the country. For example, most of the attacks were committed by lone actors, involved the use of firearms, and ended without law enforcement intervention. Further, although the offenders directed their attacks toward federal sites and officials, at times, the indiscriminant nature of their violence affected individuals who happened to be conducting business at government sites, attending government functions, or working in buildings shared with government personnel. This report builds on existing best practices that the U.S. Secret Service has established in the field of threat assessment by offering considerations for investigations, security practices, and other types of mitigation strategies to reduce the risk of incidents of targeted violence."

"The National Counterintelligence Strategy of the United States of America 2016 (Strategy) was developed in accordance with the Counterintelligence Enhancement Act of 2002 (Pub.L. No. 107-306, 116 Stat. 2383 (as amended) codified at 50 U.S.C. sec. 3383(d)(2)). The Strategy sets forth how the United States (U.S.) Government will identify, detect, exploit, disrupt, and neutralize foreign intelligence entity (FIE) threats. It provides guidance for the counterintelligence (CI) programs and activities of the U.S. Government intended to mitigate such threats. Each U.S. Government department and agency has a role in implementing this Strategy in the context of its own mission and through application of its unique responsibilities and authorities. Nothing in this Strategy shall be construed as authorization of any department or agency to conduct CI activities not otherwise authorized under statute, executive order, or any other applicable law, policy, or regulation."

From the thesis abstract: "Despite law enforcement's best efforts, terrorist groups are expanding at alarming rates. One of the easiest ways to prevent terrorist attacks is to prevent individuals from joining terrorist organizations. Counter-terrorism programs that effectively reduce membership, reduce association and increase desistance to terror groups will undoubtedly reduce terror incidents. This research identifies risk factors that greatly influence an individual's decision to join a terrorist group; policy makers can use this information to design new policies aimed at prevention and intervention. If the U.S. government is looking for community-oriented solutions to criminal groups, it need look no further than the study of domestic street gangs. There is vast research into theories, strategies and programs that policy makers can reference. Because these models already exist for street gangs, the government need not waste time developing new strategies from scratch. This research discovered the group dynamic and processes that exist for street gangs exits similarly for terrorist organizations. It is the hope that this research lends new direction to the developing policies and de-radicalization strategies that are currently underway."