Institute of Criminology Public Seminars: 'The Spectacular Few: Prisoner Radicalization and the Evolving Terrorist Threat'

Speaker: Professor Mark S Hamm, Professor of Criminology, Indiana State University.

In this seminar Professor Hamm will explore the contentious debate over prisoner radicalization and terrorism. Drawing from a wide range of sources—including historical case studies of prisoner radicalization reaching from Gandhi to Malcolm X, to Bobby Sands and the detainees of Guantanamo; contemporary archival research; and interviews with intelligence officers and prisoners—Hamm contends that prisons are hotbeds for personal transformation toward extremism due to the increasingly chaotic nature of prison life caused by mass incarceration. He shows that the number of prisoners who actually graduate to terrorist acts are remarkable few, but their actions are nonetheless serious. Hamm argues that in order to understand this evolving terrorist threat, we must come to terms with how inmates are treated behind bars today.

Professor Hamm is a former prison warden from Arizona and currently Professor of Criminology at Indiana State University and a Senior Research Fellow at the Terrorism Center, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, The City University of New York. Since 2011 he has served as a member of the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute’s program on Prison Radicalization, Rehabilitation and Reintegration of Violent Extremist Offenders. His books include Terrorism as Crime: From Oklahoma City to Al-Qaeda and Beyond; In Bad Company: America’s Terrorist Underground; and the forthcoming The Spectacular Few: Prisoner Radicalization and the Evolving Terrorist Threat.

This seminar starts at 5.30pm,and will be held in Seminar Room B3, Institute of Criminology, Sidgwick Ave, Cambridge, CB3 9DA. A drinks reception in the basement foyer will follow this seminar for attendees.

The IoC Public Seminar Series is open to all interested in attending, with no ticket required. If you wish to be added to the seminar mailing list, please contact: Joanne Garner, on: jf225@cam.ac.uk