Project
Understanding how acts of violence are classified
Oct 26, 2021
RAND Europe was commissioned to conduct a study on how different acts of violence are classified by subject matter experts (SMEs). The study was based on the inputs of 25 SMEs from a range of backgrounds (government/policy, practitioners, and academia/research) and fields (e.g. counter-terrorism, legal, policing). The findings demonstrate ongoing difficulties in classifying acts of violence and inform recommendations for policymakers.
Understanding how acts of violence are classified by subject matter experts
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Classifying acts of violence, particularly terrorism, is an ongoing challenge. There are risks to society as a whole if a specific act has been misclassified. For example, this can distort statistics and affect the understanding of, as well as the risks associated with, a phenomenon. In addition, misclassification can lead to the release of offenders who could still be of harm to others. In this context, RAND Europe was commissioned to undertake a study on how different acts of violence are classified by subject matter experts (SMEs).
The study was based on the inputs of 25 SMEs from a range of backgrounds (government/policy, practitioners, and academia/research) and fields (e.g. counter-terrorism, legal, policing, etc.). The SMEs first responded to a questionnaire to classify 12 case studies displaying acts of violence, then participated in a two-hour workshop, in which four of the case studies and their classification were discussed in more detail.
The findings demonstrate the ongoing difficulties in classifying acts of violence. Defining such acts is not done in isolation, but comprises many different facets of the crime, including the perpetrator's motivation, the significance of their online presence, any known or emerging mental health issues, and the classifier's own knowledge, experience, and possibly any resulting biases. The misclassification of complex crimes, especially those with probable or verified connections to terrorism, bring significant risks. Based on the findings, the study team offers several recommendations for policymakers.
This research was commissioned by the Homeland Security Group – Home Office and conducted by RAND Europe.
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