The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) research on domestic terrorism provides comprehensive insights into the nature, risk factors, and prevention of violent extremism in the United States. Key findings include:
- Far-right extremist violence has increased significantly and continues to outpace all other types of terrorism and domestic violent extremism in the U.S. Since 1990, far-right extremists have committed far more ideologically motivated homicides than far-left or radical Islamist extremists, accounting for 227 attacks that resulted in over 520 deaths, compared to 42 attacks by far-left extremists causing 78 deaths.
- Domestic terrorists and extremists do not have a single profile; however, individuals with criminal histories, suspected mental illness, and membership in extremist groups are more likely to engage in violent acts. Factors such as stable employment and marriage tend to correlate with nonviolent behavior.
- The research highlights the evolving lifespan of terrorists, with law enforcement improvements reducing the longevity of extremist activities over decades.
- Terrorists use the internet heavily to spread propaganda, recruit, reinforce commitment, and coordinate activities.
- NIJ-funded studies focus on effective prevention, intervention strategies, community resilience, and criminal justice responses aimed at reducing violent extremism.
This research underlines the importance of evidence-based approaches for law enforcement and communities in understanding and combating domestic terrorism, especially far-right violent extremism, which poses the greatest current threat in the U.S. context.