Using The Soft Approach To Rehabilitate Terrorists

Rehabilitation programs that address the main motivating factors that lead individuals to join terrorist organizations have a greater chance of success at disengaging terrorists and reducing the likelihood of recidivism than incarceration that is merely retributive in nature. Some convicted terrorists are deemed too dangerous to release back into society and must serve indefinite prison terms for their crimes in order to protect society. The question arises; however, of what to do with those captured or convicted individuals who will eventually be released from prison and reintegrated into society. Many nations across the globe have instituted a soft approach to countering terrorism through the use of rehabilitation programs. These nations focus their rehabilitation programs on disengaging the prisoner from terrorist activities through various humane initiatives that may incorporate religious, psychological, social, or vocational treatments and education. Rehabilitation programs range from the non-existent, such as in the United States to highly involved, as in Saudi Arabia.