Compendium of Good Practices in the Rehabilitation and Reintegration of Violent Extremist Offenders

Reintegration policies, processes, and practices should have a strong legal basis and be in line with international standards and human rights obligations.
Reintegration of violent extremist offenders should not be considered in isolation from victims of acts of violent extremism and the wider community and should be conducted collaboratively with such groups when appropriate.
Timely and effective reintegration planning may be necessary to facilitate reintegration opportunities, such as employment, especially given the stigma that violent extremist offenders may experience within society that may need to be overcome.
A key focus of reintegration should be on prevention of reengagement by individual offenders with violent extremist groups, causes, and ideologies to maintain desistance from offending.
Effective reintegration is likely to require individuals to receive support in one or more of the following areas: social relations, coping, identity, ideology, self-agency, and disillusionment.
Release restrictions should be appropriate and proportionate, not unnecessarily obstruct disengagement and desistance opportunities, and be balanced within the context of ensuring the safety of the community.

Probation supervision of violent extremist offenders may require the support of senior managers and probation officers with specific attributes and competencies, specific approaches to supervision, and a focus on facilitating disengagement and desistance in cooperation with other partners.
Family and friends can play a central role in reintegration efforts if they are committed to supporting disengagement and desistance and should be supported accordingly.
Civil society organizations, former violent extremist offenders, religious representatives, victims, and mentors may all have specific roles to play in reintegration; but these roles and responsibilities should be carefully managed, supported, and evaluated.
Multiagency arrangements should be utilized to coordinate and implement reintegration plans and strategies, using existing arrangements for other offender groups when appropriate.
Protecting the safety of violent extremist offenders and their families is an important consideration during reintegration given possible retribution from community members or the violent extremist groups from which individuals may have disengage.

Community Reintegration